| J & M Enterprises Newsletter |
Fun Easy Art
April 2010
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Dear Encaustic Painter,
Another extended trip South, traveling to
Henderson, NV for a week and then over to Albuquerque, NM for a month. We really had
a good time looking at all the wonderful
areas around this town. Taught Wax classes as well and met some wonderful people in
the process. Of all things to find was an
Encaustic Institute hidden in the mountains. Went to see a
show and was impressed with the project. Click the link and
read up on it. Next we headed down to San Clemente
California for about a week before going back north.
Home for a week now and have to get ready for a Demo at
an art group in town this Sat. So after unpacking I got out
the large griddle and decided to do some larger A2 size
paintings. That is about 17 x 24 inches. Now this method
is a great one to try. Of course there are very expensive hot
plates for over $200.00, but on Sale for about $19.00 you
can get a large electric griddle or go look at a thrift store.
To paint on hot paper is a lot of fun. So let me show you my first project that I called Lost.
Skies go in first and I used a bit of a hot air gun to do this.
Remember to put down some clear wax first to be your
carrier layer so the next layer of color will move with ease.
The trees on the right were done with dabbing with
crunched up Kleenex after the green was down to give
those effects. That mountain in the back was done with the
tissue pad process pushing wax through Kleenex and then
topped off with some stylus work with white. It does not
show in this picture but I have rubbed in some mica power
in areas in the foreground. The bottom is done with the
iron. Trying to paint a large picture can be a bit of challenge
but fun.
I have some of my pictures on Red Bubble. And
Fine art America. Click to view. I am part of an Encaustic
group at the Red Bubble site and they are having a contest
for images of Spring so that got me going on these next
pictures. These were going to be abstracts and while I was
on my trip I was in a store and saw a packet of felt sheets
cut into a design and I was sure I could use them with wax.
So I soaked one in wax on the griddle till it was loaded with
wax and then I laid it over the wax I had down till it
transferred the image. This first one I called Spring Returning.
I put down areas of color first and in the middle I used the
hot air to move the wax. Then I put it on the griddle and
used the felt stamp I made. Some stamping with folded up
Kleenex and stylus work. At the bottom I did spray some
webbing and rub mica gold into the webbing.
I thought I was on a roll with this idea so I went for the
second look to see what would appear. Same process but
used the wax blocks flat on the hot paper to make the
design in the middle.
If you have not tried this method you should experiment.
I saw a hot box while on my trip to make a larger surface
which I might try. A box was built out of wood about 8
inches high and a bit bigger than the paper size you want
to work on. An Aluminum plate was used for the top and on
the inner sides of the box were 4 (and could be more) 100
watt bulbs. This was hooked up to a rheostat so you could
control the temp. I didn't try it, but was told it worked just
fine.
I was talking to the company that produces the irons and
wax supplies and was told they will be putting out a hot air
gun. I was given one to test and that is what I used on
these pictures above. I really like the gun because of the
temperature control and two air speeds. I should have these
for you soon and will let you know. If you want to email me
with your interest I would let you know first when they come
in.
Here is another picture done with this gun. It is 12 x 12
inches in size.
I did a few more A6 size for you with the same theme....
here are two of the series.
 
Ok, now it is time for you to paint.... Happy Easter....
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