Something is shifting. I’ve felt it for a while now—that subtle but undeniable knowing when something that has always worked suddenly… doesn’t. It’s the feeling that tells you it’s time to leap into the unknown, even if you’d rather keep your feet planted firmly where things feel familiar. That’s exactly where I am right now.… Read More »When You Feel a Creative Shift Coming
Signing Your Work. One question that comes up in every encaustic class I teach is: How should I sign my artwork? There’s no single “right” way to sign your work—only the method that feels most authentic to you. Here are several creative, professional options artists use when finishing their encaustic pieces: Add a text overlay… Read More »Creative Ways to Sign Encaustic Art
Practice Art Every Day. I love when the right ideas show up at exactly the right moment. Recently, while reading LensWork, I came across Brooks Jensen’s insight about cultivating an “everyday art mind.” At first, I interpreted that as make art every day—a beautiful concept, but let’s be honest… who actually has the time? Between… Read More »An Every Day Art Mind
Yes… you can do photo transfers with inkjet prints. I hear it all the time—“You can’t transfer images from an inkjet print. It has to be a laser print.” And honestly, I’m not sure where this myth began, but it’s one of the most persistent misconceptions in photo encaustics. But here is the truth….both my Epson… Read More »How to Transfer Inkjet Prints to Wax
Do I dare? I’ve been writing this blog now since March of 2014 and I’d be lying to you if I told you it was always easy. There are weeks, like this one, where I have NO IDEA what I’m going to say. So, I poured through my folder on ideas and scrounge through emails… Read More »The Power of Disruption: Clarity, Creativity, and New Beginnings.
Wise words to live by. My husband is a scientist, and he’s always reminding me that the only expectation of your first experiment is experience. The more time I spend creating—especially working with photographs and beeswax—the more I realize how true that is. A couple of weeks ago, I pulled back the curtain and hosted… Read More »The Creative Lessons Inside Every “Failed” Attempt
I know what you are thinking….. How in the world can you mix watercolor and wax? That will never work. I know it seems unlikely, but in reality it’s really not so far fetched. I use watercolor all the time—actually in most of my paintings. So I want to share with you the two ways… Read More »Watercolor + Wax: Techniques That Work
Don’t be a copycat. I teach quite a bit. And every now and then, a student will ask, “Aren’t you afraid of copycats?”My answer is simple: No. No one else has my vision.I can teach the same techniques, but it’s your voice and vision that make your artwork uniquely yours. Recently, I completed Robin Rice’s… Read More »Why I’m Not Afraid of Copycats
Sometimes I call this portfolio ‘my lovelies’. It’s a name my friend Kat gave them years ago, and it still fits perfectly. Áine is my favorite in the entire series. She’s named for my mother—Áine being the Gaelic version of Ann—and the whole body of work is really about her. I created these images after… Read More »The Story Behind “My Lovelies”
Fusing Revisited. Fusing sits at the heart of encaustic painting. It’s the moment when each new layer of wax and pigment bonds to the one beneath it, forming a single, unified surface. Whether you’re working with traditional encaustic techniques or exploring the beautiful world of photo encaustics, fusing is what gives your artwork strength and… Read More »Essential Fusing Techniques for Encaustic Artists