ARTIST STATEMENT

I have always been drawn to this earth's natural patterns, raw and organic substances, aged or decomposing materials, or anything containing the beauty of nature's design and richness of wear and life.

The emotional connection to my work is the ability to portray the truths of our existence. Creation screams His Majesty and my work is an image of my unique and personal relationship with my Creator and this beauty seen through my eyes. I aim for the observer to experience this warm and passionate energy with peace and a calm intensity.

My use of the beeswax medium, a complex composition of raw and unrefined beauty, I believe speaks for itself in its involvement in my works. It can stand alone but even more, richly compliment due to its unique qualities and range of depth.

SELF TAUGHT/SELF STUDY

ABOUT ENCAUSTIC PAINTING

Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, is an ancient art medium involving heat and layered pigmented beeswax. I use only the finest unbleached, naturally filtered beeswax and prepare this medium for use by first adding damar resin, a natural  sap harvested from trees grown in the East Indies. I incorporate pure, powdered pigments into this liquid/paste creating translucent tints before applying the wax mixture. With a variety of metal heated tools, I then paint, sculpt and manipulate the wax onto wood or other prepared substrate in numerous layers. I may occasionally encase or collage antique materials into the work, using the encaustic medium to adhere it to the surface. The archival qualities of this medium are superior to any other but the true beauty of encausic paintings is their luminosity. Light can really play off this medium giving the colors a unique depth. The light does not get reflected from the surface of the painting, but rather penetrates the different wax layers and reflects back out. Encaustic naturally repels moisture and can tolerate heat more than most other mediums yet may become quite fragile in temperatures cooler that 40 degrees. When cooled, the painting's surface may then be lightly polished with to produce a satin luster. No other actions are required accept this occasional buffing to retain the beauty of the brilliancy and texture of the work.