FROM THE EDITOR
Artist Joan Stolpen describes the challenge of working with wax as a marriage of the creative with the intellectual . Her article describes the development of her art practice of creating ephemeral impressions of the natural world . She points out the tension between the need to embrace the spontaneity that a wax medium demands with “ a tactical approach to problem-solving ” — the intellect .
By mixing materials in innovative ways , the artists in this issue , on their terms , synthesize this tension and exemplify the limitless creative opportunities offered by using encaustic / wax with combinations of other media . Linda Foley integrates her original photographs with layers of wax and powdered pastels to illuminate , transform , and emphasize the intent behind the compositions . Tami Phelps melds found objects with cold wax assemblage works addressing a poignant exploration of childhood , femininity , loss , and becoming a woman . Over time and much experimentation , Leslie Giuliani conceived a brilliant path to mingle and utilize the disparate elements of encaustic wax , embroidery , and rug hooking into colorful , fantastical compositions . Although both Laura Martinez-Bianco and the technique article artist , Randall Graham , use the landscape as inspiration — each uses different wax-based materials to interpret the subject matter . Both bring an atmospheric immediacy to their work , capturing the specificity of place , light , and environment . Francesca Saveri is the lone artist in this issue using encaustic wax exclusively . Yet , she also harnesses the spontaneous character of encaustic to create complex expressionistic color explorations in her process-based compositions .
We hope that you find their work and artmaking practices inspiring . Thanks for reading !
Kari Gorden Editor Encaustic Arts Magazine editor . encausticartsmagazine @ gmail . com