What’s your rejection ritual? Rejection rituals have been on my mind lately. I don’t have any—and I’ve wondered what small practice might make rejection feel easier. The first things that come to mind? Fire and flames. Because rejection hurts. Even when we tell ourselves it’s a numbers game… even when we know each “no” brings… Read More »Rejection Rituals for Artists
What is your work about? How do you describe the feeling you want to communicate? On the surface my work is about finding a sense of belonging with the earth and its inhabitants, including animals, birds, snakes, etc.. On a deeper level it’s about constructing a personal story that embraces the unknown with a… Read More »Conversation with Artist Tami Bone
To frame or not to frame? Historically, an unframed painting was considered unfinished. Frames existed to elevate the artwork, separate it from the wall, and even protect canvases from warping. We’ve all walked through museums and seen those massive gilded frames that feel like artworks themselves. Photography brought its own traditions. Simple black, white, or… Read More »To Frame or Not to Frame Your Photo Encaustic Art
Meet Lyn Belisle. When I first saw Clare’s work online, I had one of those “aha” moments of resonance and recognition that gives an artist goosebumps. I was very new to encaustics, and I certainly wasn’t a professional photographer, but I *had* to learn how she did what she did with wax and images. Unfortunately,… Read More »Student Highlight: Lyn Belisle
Why Creative Breaks Matter: Finding Clarity Away From the Studio. Every artist needs a break—whether it’s a retreat, a workshop, a getaway with like-minded friends, or a quiet afternoon alone in the woods. The format doesn’t matter. What matters is creating space to clear your mind, reconnect with yourself, and recharge your creative energy. I’ve… Read More »Why Artists Need Creative Breaks
Don’t Believe Everything You Think. Most of us have an inner critic—one that can get loud, distracting, and sometimes downright rude. And yes, it often feels like this voice stands directly in the way of our creative flow. But what if the inner critic wasn’t always the enemy? While popular psychology labels the inner critic… Read More »Embrace the Inner Critic in Your Creative Process
The substrate debate. For beginners, substrates can be one of the most confusing parts of photo encaustic art. With so many options and conflicting advice, it’s easy to feel unsure about where to start. The most important thing to remember: Choose a porous substrate—typically a wood panel. Many artists use manufactured boards, either flat or… Read More »Preparing Substrates for Photo Encaustic
Permission to Go Rogue: Creative Mark-Making in Encaustic Art When it comes to mark-making in photo encaustic, the possibilities are endless—and the tools are everywhere. Whether you wander through a kitchen store or a hardware store, you’ll find inspiration in every aisle. Think of this as your official permission to go rogue. If it can… Read More »Creative Mark-Making Tools for Photo Encaustic Art
Work with images you don’t love. I know—it sounds completely counterintuitive. If you’ve worked with encaustic for even a minute, you already know the truth: the process can be messy, unpredictable, a little chaotic… and absolutely intoxicating. Hot beeswax, the dance between translucency and texture, the carving, scraping, polishing, fusing—it becomes this push and pull… Read More »Transforming Ordinary Photos with Encaustic
I hear it all the time: “But I don’t have access to a studio.” And honestly? Most of us didn’t when we started. Sure, if you’re creating a 36×36 photo encaustic piece loaded with texture, a dedicated studio definitely helps. But when you’re learning the foundations—when you’re discovering how wax, paper, and image all come… Read More »How to Learn Encaustics from Your Kitchen Table