A few weeks ago I started several paintings at one time and decided to work them simultaneously as a group. Ultimately, I began working on them as individual paintings, while also wanting them to have a cohesive quality to the whole unit. This is not how I typically work at all. What prompted this approach for me was the idea that my work feels somewhat fragmented with a lot of different styles. I am not saying that I am dissatisfied with the variety, more that I wanted to explore the intentional making of a body of work. I enjoy seeing series that other artist develop, and some artist I know have been working a series for years. It is fascinating to see how one concept evolves and grows richer.
I'm not done with these paintings quite yet. One thing I do know about my more recent art using the encaustic technique is that I am attracted to rectilinear quilt like compositions. I did not have a plan or idea of what I was going to create, only that I wanted to work with certain colors. Everything else has been very intuitive and letting one thing lead to the next.
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| Starting out there are ten 10x10 panels |
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| Most of the colors I am using are custom mixes using Naphthol Red. Cobalt Aqua, Midtone Grey, Red Earth Pale, enhanced Naples Yellow Hue and Titantium White (all Enkaustikos encaustic paints) |
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| Layers and layers |
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| This is were I lefts things for about a month. I needed to get brave about taking them to the next level. |
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| I was overwhelmed with the business of them and felt the need to start minimizing all the patterns. |
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| I also love using white paint. |
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| It was with this one that I began to contemplate the white halos, they are symbolic, but I don't want to over use it, ether. |
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| Then I realized I was in essence referring to the landscape so I decided to begin suggesting it more boldly in some. I also added another color to the mix, Anthraquinone Blue. I actually think I am in love with that color. |
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| I really enjoy the quilt look to this and it actually make me want to pull out my sewing machine. I also added Cobalt Green Light, a color I would like to paint my bedroom. |
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| So this one refers to the landscape and the little dark patch represents the night sky. Here the white halos take on more presence, like five figures. |
