I'm often asked how I learned to do encaustic artwork and what drew me to this medium.
I think it fits to begin this blog by telling how I started this journey as an encaustic mixed media artist.
I first read about painting with wax in a mixed media book and put a starter kit on my Christmas wishlist. Once I received the encaustic paints I kept them in a drawer for a while (like over a year). Let's just say the process of creating intimidated me. More on that in a later post.
As someone who needs to express herself through art, a time came in which no other language of expression would suffice. Personal and familial struggles pushed me to a point where I needed some way to get my feelings out. I set up a little studio space consisting of a table, and a few basic supplies, and pulled that beginner set out of storage. This creative space provided a save place for me to process grief, turmoil, and lament. It became a place of prayer and meditation as I brought my troubles to the Lord.
The pictured work above, "Tossed", is the first encaustic piece that I completed. I started with the tumultuous waves, tossing and turning. Then the heart emerged. In that season I felt overwhelmed and tossed about by all that was going on around me and within me.
Once I started using this medium of art, I awakened to the need to create and poured myself into art. I let go of perfectionism and began to play, learn, and have fun in the process of creating.
