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!

Wondrous Wax, Wondrous Class

I had so much fun teaching this great group of women to create encaustic paintings and collages! It all went by much too fast. Thanks, ladies!

Some of their work finished or in progress on which to feast your eyes.

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!

 

More Mosaic Collages and Encaustic Class Reminder

More mosaic background collages from Linda Kunsman! The below is from her blog. Check it out to see this and other inspiring work from her.

 
Those of you who stopped by last week know I shared my enthusiasm for a tutorial  YouTube video Serena Barton shared on her blog recently. Curb your enthusiasm? Not me! If you didn't check it out, go here for the links. I have two more canvases to share this week :)

  This is how the canvas started:

                                                   just  squares of paper scraps in my stash


   And finished:

                                                    Seek Within      (6" x 8" canvas board)

Reinkers, acrylic glazing medium, blue acrylic paint, card stock stencil, door image (Paper Whimsy), recycled dryer sheet, dress pattern tissue paper, typed words, pencil, black ink pad.

  the second canvas base:

  And the finished  canvas:

                                             My Heart Has a Window    ( 6" x 8" canvas board)


Reinkers, glazing medium, green/ green black acrylic paints, Victorian pattern wall stencil, window image and girl image (Paper Whimsy), found words, recycled dryer sheet, black ink pad.

 What I love most about creating these is just laying down the various papers,  seeing the transformation and  really just playing with mixes of reinkers and glaze directly on the substrate for some really good results. I either start with a word/ sentiment or an image and go from there.  BTW, Serena kindly took the time to send me a note and share my work on her blog. She also heartily agreed that if you create something inspired by her videos or her book or classes to contact her and let her know.  I so appreciate the time she takes with everyone and the fact that she has given me a way to put my  art and spirit into these projects.




Thank you, Linda!


                                                                          ***



Reminder to those in the Portland OR area:
Coming up on March 8

 

Chosen        Encaustic/Mixed Media on Wood Panel

  Layers of History with Encaustic

The translucent qualities of the encaustic (beeswax and resin) wax medium and paint create depth, mystery and complexity. You will learn to make encaustic medium and encaustic paint, incise, add oil paint, use cheesecloth, specialty papers, and more You'll leave with several paintings and/or mixed media pieces and all the information you need to get started on your own!

March 8, 2014 1-5 PM
Tuition: 90. Supplies included 

Register on my website

Art and Soul Coming to Portland in April!

It's not too soon to be thinking of Art and Soul Retreat here in Portland OR, April 7-14! We have a great lineup of classes for you. Below is information about the classes I'll be teaching. Be sure to check out the Art and Soul Class List for more information and registration.

Wabi-Sabi Paper

 Monday, April 7, I'll be teaching an all day workshop called "Papers Wabi-Sabi." Below you'll find a video with examples of the kind of hand-decorated papers you can create in this fun and informal workshop.

 Introduction Video

 Monday evening we'll make a "Strange Little Book."

Strange Little Book

Create a quirky, unique little book using mostly recycled materials--no stitching involved! In this fun and informal class you'll use weird things like bizarre found photos, old teabags, coffee, old and odd book and magazine pages, old embellishments, and miscellaneous do-dads. You'll use cold connections to fasten the pages together in your own eccentric way. You'll love the lovely and unusual little book you leave with!

Introduction Video

Tuesday, April 8, I"ll teach an evening class called "Waxing Literary with Charlotte."

Literary Charlotte

I’m excited to share with you how you can make a rich and mysterious work of art by waxing an old book and incorporating a Frozen Charlotte doll. You’ll make a 3-D art piece with encaustic medium, oil paint, found objects, vintage papers, and embellishments. You’ll learn how to incise, carve niches into the waxed book, and color the wax. You’ll also learn how to add an aged or gothic touch to your work. You'll leave with a unique mixed media work of art!

 Introduction Video

Wednesday, April 9 will be an exciting all day encaustic class, "Mind Your Own Beeswax."

Encaustic Painting:  A Full Cup

 

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, cheesecloth, 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!

  

 Introduction Video

 I hope to see you here in Portland in April for one of the most inspirational and friendly retreats around!

"Who's Your Mummy?" at Art and Soul: Encaustic Portraits

This was a class in painting encaustic images inspired by the Fayum mummy portraits and other portraits. Some powerful pieces emerged from this class!

Most of the students were new to encaustic and to painting portraits. Pretty amazing! They cut loose and encouraged each other throughout the day.
These students have a lot to be proud of!