And so it was that by I found myself involved in development of a range of products which upheld the potential for pretty much anyone to make cards using this particular encaustic process . By the way , my own feeling about defining what constitutes an encaustic work is that at some stage it should involve melting of the wax medium used . I realize that this may not comply totally with the realities of history , but to me , melting is intrinsic to the authenticity of the encaustic arts .
The range of those ‘ encaustic art ’ branded products became more organized by 1992 and much activity happened . After that I travelled a lot in Europe and to the USA , introducing the encaustic art concept and teaching people how to begin practice of this art-form . It was not only well received but continued to create for me a lifestyle and income which maintains to this day .
I attended numerous shows where either the public or sometimes the trade would come to see and buy . At retail events , often lasting for 4 days , I would simply demonstrate continuously , unless I was selling to someone . This was great for promoting the idea and also a good platform to teach and help those just beginning or perhaps returning once begun . Any craft can become an art if it is practiced and executed well enough , and I got very slick at those demonstrations !
Sometime I would do larger pieces , but I usually did these without a public audience because then there was not constant time pressure and expectation in the air . Between 1987 and 1990 I made more income from selling paintings than the range of early products , but after 1991 it rapidly became an income from promotion and sale of the encaustic art idea and the ensuing brand of products . … enough on all that ….