Waxy Workshops, Cold or Hot, at Art and Soul Minneapolis

I have about four spots left open in my wax workshops at Art and Soul Retreat in Minneapolis. Whether you like your wax hot (encaustic), or cold (oil and cold wax medium) you can have a great time experimenting week after next at Art and Soul. 

Here's the description for my cold wax class, 

Luminous Landscape with Oil and Cold Wax

Discover the translucent beauty of painting with oil and cold wax medium! You’ll experiment with free and bold abstract landscapes with this delicious medium and Arches oil paper. You can paint right onto the paper, so no need to gesso. Unlike with hot wax, you need no appliances to achieve maximum cold wax goodness. You can add and scrape off layers as you want to, so no need to be concerned about mistakes!

You’ll work on several pieces at once, using tools such as squeegees, bamboo skewers, rubber jar openers, combs, and more. In addition to painting, we’ll explore incising, using paint sticks, painting knives, oil pastels, and adding collage elements. Join me in exploring this unusual and interactive medium. You’ll leave with several gorgeous pieces!

For those of you who want to learn encaustic skills or add to what you already have, I'll be teaching "Express Yourself in Encaustic".

Encaustic is an ancient art that is enjoying a tremendous renaissance in our time. Encaustic pieces have a luminous glow found in no other medium. Encaustic layers are "dry" almost instantly and yet they can be reworked at any time in the future. Encaustic works wonderfully with a variety of mixed media elements and techniques. This is a perfect class for those new to encaustic. You'll learn to make encaustic medium and encaustic paint, use collage and photo transfer with encaustic, add 3-D embellishments, and more. You'll have fun experimenting with the many fascinating effects that you can achieve by creating with encaustic. If you have used encaustic before but would like a refresher or new inspiration, you'll find it in this class. You can add and scrape off layers as you go, so no need to be concerned about "mistakes". Come express yourself freely and boldly with encaustic!

Sharon and I Love Ceracolors!

"Fayum Memory"  by Serena

Not long ago I received a call from a talented painter, Sharon, who wanted to create a series of portraits of friends and family in the style of the Greco-Roman-Egyptian painters of the first century BCE to the third century CE. These paintings were discovered centuries later in the Fayum area of Egypt.
Most of these paintings were done during the sitters' lifetimes and then after the person died, were affixed to their mummies. The paintings are done in a variety of styles, but all are haunting in their beauty and in the sense we have of seeing into the face of a real person who could be someone we know. One of the chief characteristics of Fayum paintings is the dark, large eyes of the subject.

I had done several Fayum inspired paintings in encaustic, but I wondered if Ceracolors wouldn't provide more flexibility in painting.  I used a heat tool to fuse and incise in much of the painting to replicate the look of the Fayum paintings. These ancient painters used both encaustic and some form of cold wax. Ceracolors is a water-soluble wax paint which can be used in many ways. 

Below is a still life done with Ceracolors and Ceracolors Fluid Medium. Below the apple you'll see some of my other Fayum experiments.

"Glowing Apple" by Serena

"Ethiopian Girl" by Serena

"Fayum Memory # 2" by Serena

Sharon came to my studio to experiment with Fayum portraits. Her first one was done in encaustic, see below.

Sharon's Encasutic Painting

Sharon used the same heat tool I had with her encaustic painting--you can particularly see it on the hair on this piece.

After the encaustic experiment, Sharon started a series of Ceracolor Fayum portraits.

By Sharon, after Fayum Artist

Sharon really took off with the Ceracolors. When she paints family and friends, the pieces become really alive and individual. 

By Sharon

By Sharon

By Sharon

By Sharon

I find Sharon's Fayum style paintings as hauntingly beautiful as the originals.

Ceracolors can be used for abstract painting as well. My piece below looks much like my oil/cold wax paintings.

"Smuggler's Cove" by Serena

I'll be teaching "Ceracolor Still Lifes" at Artiscape, sponsored by European Papers, in Dublin, OH later this month. 

Local Library Blooming with Charlotte's Waxy Book

Not only do our local branch libraries provide books, DVDs, computers etc. but our library system offers art classes! I was fortunate to teach a lively group of seven students today. They created an assemblage with a used book, a Frozen Charlotte doll, encaustic medium, encaustic paint, and a wild assortment of embellishments, dried plant matter, teabags, collage papers, and in one case, "Something I found on the floor that I knew would look good in my piece."

The students were all new to encaustic but took to it with gusto. I am so impressed by these creations which were made in 3 hours. A very fun afternoon for all of us!

This book is a transformed copy of Treasure Island. Charlotte's drape is a piece of dried teabag.

The maker of this piece had Venice in mind

An Asian look for this waxy book. Charlotte is surrounded by dried tea flakes.

We all got a kick out of this piece: Charlotte goes wild!

A  creepy and mysterious Goth piece

This piece has a strong East Indian feel. The copper and gold accents were done with large creamy oil pastels.

This book has some deliberately torn pages on the left. The bold swathes of purple and turquoise were the perfect finishing touches. 

Last Missive from Artiscape

"Waxing Literary with Charlotte" was the first class I taught at Artiscape, and the last but not least, that I'm sharing here. I want to share these lovely assemblages before I leave on Sunday for Art and Soul Retreat, just outside of Kansas City. (More on that below.)

The "Charlotte" class was really fun! All of the Artiscape classes were half day, so students had to jump in and create. This class rose to the challenge and made these great assemblages. Each person brought an unwanted book. We covered the books in encaustic medium and paint, collage, and a wide variety of embellishments. Each student received a genuine Frozen Charlotte doll. I love what they did! 

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I'll be teaching four classes in Excelsior Springs MO starting next Monday! Art and Soul Retreat will be held at the historic Elms Hotel and Spa--a lovely old lodge with lots of atmosphere. (And they say, a ghost...) I still have a few spots open in my classes, so if you are planning to attend or want to, check them out! 

Wondrous Wax Workshop: Encaustic Class Coming Up

Just two spaces left in my next studio class in Portland, Oregon! You'll find more information/registration on my site.http://www.serenabarton.com. Hope you'll join us if you are in the area for lots of waxy fun!

Wondrous Wax Workshop: Encaustic Painting & Collage
Saturday, February 21, 2015 1-5

The translucent qualities of the encaustic wax medium and paint create depth, mystery and complexity. Fall in love with the whole ball of wax! You’ll learn to make encaustic medium and encaustic paint, use collage and photo transfer with encaustic, and add 3-D embellishments in this fun and informal class. We’ll incise, add oil paint, specialty papers, and more. Whether you are new to encaustic or an old wax hand, you’ll discover something new while minding your own beeswax! You’ll leave with several painting and/or collages and all the information you need to get started on your own!

               Sinplify                                                  Encasutic/Collage on Panel

Yummy encaustic work from "Mind Your Own Beeswax" at Art and Soul VA Beach

I am excited to share these innovative and diverse pieces from last week's class at Art and Soul Retreat in VA Beach. This was a fun class full of enthusiastic and talented students!