9 Elements for Strong Photo Encaustic Images. Every image—whether a photograph, a painting, or a photo encaustic piece—carries certain artistic elements. They won’t always all be present, and they don’t need to be. These aren’t rigid rules. Sometimes an image is powerful precisely because it breaks convention and gives the viewer something unexpected. But understanding… Read More »Elements for Strong Photo Encaustic Images
Nothing Beats In-person Workshops. There’s something powerful that happens when artists come together—not to compete, compare, or perform, but simply to create. Working in isolation has its place, but spending time with like-minded artists offers something different entirely. It’s where ideas are sparked over conversation, where laughter becomes part of the creative process, and where… Read More »Why Creating Art With Like-Minded Artists Matters
The Hidden Power of Constraints. As a kid I loved Dr. Seuss’ book Green Eggs and Ham. I still love the book. I read it to a couple of little girls just the other day. There is something so masterful in such a simple book. What most people don’t know is that Dr. Seuss wrote… Read More »The Hidden Power of Constraints: Boost Your Creativity
Have I told you before that I love my job? Every 6 weeks or so I meet my friend and fellow photographer Debra for lunch. These are not quick 45-minute grab a bite and go. We chat about all aspects of our creative worlds. It’s nothing for us to have a 3-hour lunch. But last… Read More »Do you see a Higher Purpose to your work?
Careful about what you find online about photo encaustic. A few months ago I received an email from a well-respected encaustic instructor I hadn’t met in person. She wrote that students often ask her about incorporating photography into encaustic work, and she routinely refers them to me. She also shared a concern: many teachers are… Read More »How to Spot Questionable Encaustic Techniques
Combining Oil and Wax is tricky. Oil and wax have always been a magical combination for me. Almost every piece I create includes at least some oil paint because the layered richness, depth, and luminosity it creates is unlike anything else. There’s an opulence to oil over wax that can transform a piece, adding movement… Read More »Avoid the Oil-and-Wax Danger Zone
Quit griping about paying gallery commissions. I often hear artists say, “Why should I give a gallery 50% of my profit?” The answer is simple: galleries do the work most of us can’t or don’t want to do. Creating art and marketing art require two entirely different skill sets, and galleries excel at the business… Read More »Paying Gallery Commissions
3 Real Artistic Fears. I’ve been teaching this work for a long time, and one thing I know for certain is this: people carry deep-rooted fears about creating art. I do too. Making art is an incredibly brave act. When it comes to diving into photo encaustics, I see three fears surface again and again.… Read More »Overcoming Your Biggest Fears in Photo Encaustics
The 40-40-20 rule. The 40-40-20 rule has become one of the most valuable guidelines in my art business. When I recently asked what topics you wanted to learn more about, so many of you mentioned the business side of selling art. It’s a massive topic—one that energizes me as much as the creative process itself.… Read More »A Simple Rule to Grow Your Art Business
The moment that changed it all. The moment that changed everything for me as an artist didn’t arrive with fireworks. It came quietly, after months of experimenting with alternative photographic processes, searching for more depth than a flat printed image could ever give me. I wanted something tactile and alive—something I didn’t have to hide… Read More »My ‘Aha’ Moment: How Tissue Paper Transformed My Photo Art