“Learning, Changing, Growing”, Original Encaustic Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Learning, Changing, Growing"

 

 

This is an original encaustic piece that I completed recently.  I had a really strong desire to experiment with encaustics and believe me, this piece and two other small pieces took me the better part of a whole day!  I felt like a crazy person, trying to get beautiful, luminous colors and textures into the layers.  At one point, I melted all of the layers off and started all over again.  The text on this piece reads, "While it may alternately sting or soothe, everyday is different, and there is always something new to learn...".  I truly believe that.  I think all experiences, good or bad, are learning experiences and are put in our paths to get us to where we need to be.  I'm still not where I want to be with this medium, but I am working on it ~ and playing with it has been so much fun.  I hope when the weather cools down a bit more, that I can do a few more of these paintings.   

 

For those who don't know much about encaustic, it is a medium which consists of molten beeswax, resin, and pigments that are fused after application of each layer into a continuous layer and fixed to a support (wood) with heat. This achieves a lustrous enamel appearance.

The word 'encaustic' comes from the Greek and means to burn in, which refers to the process of fusing the paint. Encaustic paintings can be polished to a high gloss, molded, sculpted, textured and combined with collage materials.

Encaustic is also very durable and an excellent investment. This is due to the fact that beeswax is impervious to moisture. Because of this it will not deteriorate, it will not yellow, and it will not darken.

Encaustic paintings do not have to be varnished or protected by glass. If your painting looks dull, or gets dirty it can easily be wiped clean with a soft cloth dampened with water and buffed to a high shine.

 

I mounted this painting on a wooden pallet that I received from Redeemwood.  Redeemwood takes old, used, unwanted pallets and recycles them into the most beautiful canvases that you've ever seen.  I decided on this painting and the two smaller ones, that I would mount them directly on to the canvases and they complimented the paintings beautifully.  You can contact Doug at Redeemwood about his canvases at this email address: 

redeemwood@gmail.com or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/Redeemwood

 

This painting is available for purchase.  It measures approximately 13X23.  Feel free to email me at saltlightwatercolors.com if you are interested in purchasing or if you have questions or comments. 

 

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