The Care and Feeding of Your Creative Mind. Every artist walks their own creative path. None of our journeys are better or worse—just uniquely ours. But one thing we all share is the need to stay inspired. Without ongoing inspiration, our creative energy dims, and our work suffers. A big part of nurturing your creative… Read More »Nurturing Your Creative Mind
What’s your upgrade plan? I’ve been thinking a lot about upgrading recently. We had an abundance of water this year in Minneapolis and although we haven’t had an issue in the past, it seems this was to be our summer of getting water in our basement. Every time it rained; we were vacuuming up water.… Read More »Upgrade Plan
Get your work reviewed! I’ve known George Slade for many years. He’s a photography curator, writer, historian, and consultant—but what stands out most is his gift for helping artists find meaning in their own images. Critiques can feel intimidating. Sharing work that comes from the heart often brings vulnerability, and it’s never easy to hear… Read More »Finding Meaning Through Image Review
Where does inspiration come from? If the answer were simple, none of us would struggle with creative blocks. I’m no stranger to the moments when everything feels stagnant and nothing new wants to emerge. And then—out of absolutely nowhere—something sparks. That’s exactly what happened this year in Wyoming while teaching at Eaton’s Ranch, where I’ve… Read More »Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Success Secret. Creating beautiful backgrounds for tissue paper images and photo transfers doesn’t have to be complicated—or frustrating. I remember one student telling me: “I’m not an artist. I don’t know how to paint. Show me a way to create backgrounds where I don’t have to imagine it all from scratch.” If you’ve ever felt… Read More »8 Creative and Easy Background Ideas for Photo Encaustics
Raise your hand if you are tired of ‘busyness’. When people ask how I’m doing, I try not to say “busy,” even though my to-do list could stretch out the door and down the stairs. The truth is, life is full—beautifully full—and I’m learning to reframe busyness as simply living a full life. I just… Read More »Living a Full Life, Not a Busy One
Get your work out there! Last month I had the chance to show my work at Art Santa Fe in New Mexico, and honestly, it was a wonderful experience. Talking with people who stopped by—some curious, some quiet, some deeply moved—reminded me why sharing our art publicly is so important. Galleries are incredible, and I’m… Read More »Why Showing Your Art Matters
Feel the Fear….and Drive Anyway I’ll be honest — I was terrified to drive across the country with a car full of encaustic art. You’ve probably heard the warnings: “Don’t put encaustic in a hot car!” Now picture this — it’s mid-July, temps forecast in the 90s, and I’m planning an 18-hour drive with 17… Read More »How to Safely Transport Encaustic Art in Hot Weather
Meet David Mould. I am frequently in awe of many of my students. And David Mould is just killing it these days. He lives in Scotland and has found a robust market for his work. Every time he posts in the our Private Alumni FB page, the comments come flowing in on how beautiful his… Read More »STUDENT HIGHLIGHT: David Mould
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