J & M Enterprises
J & M Enterprises Newsletter Fun Easy Art
August 2009
Ideas To Try
:: Supplies
:: Classes
:: My Blog
:: Videos Online
John Ideas To Try
Dear Encaustic Painter,

I have wanted a way to keep in contact with the many customers, students, and friends that visit my web site for information and to watch my videos.  Until now I didn't have a good way to do that.  I hope this new method will keep us connected and provide you the information you want about what I am creating with wax.
 
It's been is over 6 years now that I have been exploring the world of wax. I have been practicing the European style I learned from Michael Bossom, using just hot irons instead of the traditional method of pots of hot wax with brushes. I must admit I am partial to the European style, for it produces very bright colors that flow with ease when you use a hard surface card stock. Of course, with other surfaces you can get many different looks, all of which keeps it interesting. I do like to apply Kleenex into the wax as well, and then use the exposed  tooth of the tissue to grab either more wax or other media. One of my favorite techniques is to use Twinkle H2O with the tissue, for it produces some very attractive results. No matter what direction I am led to create a picture, if I like it when I am done I will share with you how it was created so you can have a go at it yourself. For instance, look at the background behind this text and see that pattern. Now if you used a stencil of that shape and painted on some watercolor paper with mat media and let it dry you would have an image appear if you waxed on top of that painted surface. Nice little trick I have used in some of my collage pieces


                                              emerging

Notice the pattern in the lower left corner. That is how I put that pattern in using a mat media stenciled pattern on watercolor paper before the wax was applied. Just for your information, the rest of this piece reflects a mixture of ideas. The horses, tree and stone face in upper left was done with image transfers using Golden's Clear Gel Medium to make the transfers. The raised image is a cutout from a scrapbook collection that was waxed and glued on. Now the upper right image was a photo of a garden image from my backyard that I printed on overhead projector film. I cut the film in several places, and placed a colored wax pattern underneath to look at through the film. There were some glass beads used, as well as some Diamond Glaze poured, and smoothed on in different areas. This photo does not show it off very well, but it is an interesting piece and the idea got me thinking about how I could use it in other ways.

                                           chest

Here is an example of where I went with this idea of printing an image on the film and then putting a wax pattern behind it. When mounted together you get some interesting visual effects. I quite like the way this one turned out. This is sort of a take off on another way I did this. In the past I had printed the image on silk transfer paper and then embedded the silk image into the wax. That process had a way of creating a very interesting effect when the wax came through the silk image from behind.  So experiment is my middle name and I hope I can get you to start thinking of new ways to explore with wax.
Supplies
Encaustic Starter Wax Set $21.00



starter wax



There are three sets to choose from:, Starter, Expanding, and the Vivid set of colored wax blocks. These are smaller than what you might find in an art store for encaustic wax because we do not need a large supply of wax to paint with. Where this set of 16 wax block colors sells for $21.00, in an art store a single colored wax block  might go from $25 to $50 a color. You can see why this method I use is attractive costwise. 

You can find all the supplies that I import on my web site under the catalog page on fun-easy-art.com

Although I do have an email address on this web site (john@fun-easy-art.com) you might want to use one that I access on a daily basis for quicker response times. That would be
studio180waxart@aol.com .  If you ever have any questions, do contact me as I want to be available to help you.

Just a heads up that the stylus that is used is not available and won't be untill probably November. I happened to put an order in for the last of the supply so I hope to make it through till the new stock arrives. Fingers crossed.
Upcoming Class Schedule & Demo
August and September

emerging



August 16th Daniel Smith Downtown store
           Demo at 12 and 2 pm
           4150 First Avenue South
           Seattle, Washington 98134
           (206) 223-9599

August 22nd   11 am to 3 pm  ($75.00)
           Everett Artist's Supply & Framing
           Register with me at   
           studio180waxart@aol.com.  At the  
           class I won't be able to take credit 
           cards so if you need to pay that
           way just pre-pay for class at
           paypal.com using my email
           address and say it is for this class.

August 30th    11 am to 3 pm ($95.00)
           Cole Gallery in Edmonds, Wa.        
           Use this link to
           Register online at the Cole Gallery
          
September 13th  1-5 PM
           in Shoreline WA at
           The Scrapbook Pad   ($65.00)
           Register  and pre-pay for the class 
           with the store.
          
September 30th - October 5th
           Art & Soul
           Portland 2009
           Embassy Suites Portland--Airport
           7900 NE 82nd Ave.
171 European Style Encaustic Painting  - Sun Eve 3 hours  $80.00 + 25 supply fee ($21.00 wax block kit to keep)
131 European Style Encaustic Painting  Monday all day. $145 + $35 supply fee
($21 wax block kit to keep)
Register online with Art & Soul at the above link.
Visit my artist owned gallery located at 508 Main St. in Edmonds WA.
or visit the web site.
One of the oldest artist owned galleries in Washington, formed in 1961 as a non-profit 501-C4 corporation.
 
Waxingitup.blogspot.com
My blog:


You can explore some of my images and ideas on this blog. I will try to keep it current, but I must admit I have had my hands full at the moment with a large non-profit project called the Rose House. A group of us are trying to save an historic piece of property here in Edmonds, WA. If you want to check out what we are doing go to this web address.
Rose House Historic Property.

Part of the mission statement is concerning the arts and that is where I fit into this picture. I have put together an art show with my co op gallery and filled the whole house with art. Now I will be overseeing the art that is shown in the house. Didn't take long and I was on the board. Nice to be involved in a community project like this. If any of you like to preserve old historic homes that will be put to good use, you can find our donate button on the web site and we would love to have your support.
Free Instruction
35 video clips to watch.


I had a lot of fun putting these clips together. I have heard from many of you from around the world that you are looking at these many times to get ideas. I have been wanting to do some more videos and have just finished one. I am considering the ways to get this video out. I think that having it available on the web is the best idea, so I will check into this idea and keep you posted. Might have the DVD available as well.

To look at the video clips I have on the web simply access them from these links.
Series 1.
Series 2.
Series 3.
Hope they help you and inspire you to give wax a try.
Free
 I have been so impressed with this Constant Contact service I am using to send you this email.  I would like to suggest you consider using it to promote your art. Having a way to keep your customers organized and up to date on what you're doing is so important. Try it free for 60 days and find out if it can expand your business. When I think of all the email addresses I have lost over the years, OUCH!

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Thanks for your continued interest in wax painting, my website and, blog, and now my e-newsletter.

Sincerely,
 
John Vandebrooke
J & M Enterprises