Working in a Series

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. 

Starting out there are ten 10x10 panels

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)  

Layers and layers

This is were I lefts things for about a month.
I needed to get brave about taking them to the next level.  

I was overwhelmed with the business of them and felt the
need to start minimizing all the patterns.

I also love using white paint. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.