Saying Something

New work. New life. New Colorado... at least new to me. Loving the weather. the summer. the people. scripting... new art. Isn't wax the best?

All Levels are Welcome to Learn about Wax::

It's all about experimentation. We'll learn together. If you've had a lot of art experience or are new to your artistic personal exploration... come on along. We'll walk the road of adventure together. With wax and fire. It'll be fun, I promise.

Here is the schedule. Let's get to work::

Week 1, January 11
Demo: Encaustic Painting. Make medium. Discuss supply list. (Wax and resin will be supplied.)
Project: Make medium. Begin collecting supplies.
Supplies suggested: Bring an electric fry pan or griddle. Package cupcake papers. Reusable coffee filter. Inexpensive gravy ladle. *Refer to supply list
Week 2, January 18
Demo: Encaustic Painting with color. Continue to make medium.
Project: Paint with wax on wooden panel. Begin with color.
Supplies needed: Electric fry pan or griddle. Package cupcake papers. Reusable coffee filter. Inexpensive gravy ladle. Torch. Wood panels–suggested size: 12” X 12”.
Week 3, January 25
Demo: Playing with line.
Project: Paint with encaustic. Lines and Color. Experiment.
Supplies needed: Bring in print to fit panel and PVA glue. And the usual supplies.
Week 4, February 01
Demo: Playing with texture.
Project: Try it.
Supplies needed: Bring in two prints to fit panel or cradles and PVA glue. And the usual supplies.
Week 5, February 08
Demo: Preparing a panel with a print.
Project: Glue on print and continue to paint with encaustic.
Supplies needed: Bring in two prints to fit panel or cradles and PVA glue.
Week 6, February 15
Demo: Painting over the print. Fencing and pouring wax–over a print.
Project: Try it.
Supplies needed: Bring paper, collage and found objects to embed into wax.
Week 7, February 22
Demo: Monoprint, collage and found objects.
Project: Try it.
Supplies needed: Bring paper, collage and found objects to embed into wax.
Week 8, March 01
Demo: Building cradles and ironing wax.
Project: Create a goal based on the demos thus far to finish by the end of the semester.
Supplies needed: To be determined.
Week 9, March 08
Demo: Stencil. Layering. Scraping back.
Project: Present idea for end of semester project.
Supplies needed: To be determined.
Week 10, March 15
Demo: Work on Plexiglas
Project: Create a goal based on the demos thus far to finish by the end of the semester.
Supplies needed: To be determined.
Week 11, March 22
Demo: Upon request
Project: Work toward your semester project
Supplies needed: To be determined.
Week 12, March 29
Show & Tell: Looking over the Semester’s work.

Blogs, Books and Information::

Books:
The Art of Encaustic Painting by Joanne Mattera
Contemporary Expression in the Ancient Medium of Pigmented Wax
Encaustic Workshop by Patricia Seggebruch
Artistic Techniques for Working with Wax
Embracing Encaustic by Linda and William Womack
Learning to Paint with Beeswax


Supplies:
beeswax - www.dadant.com
R & F Encaustic - for everything encaustic and lots of information: www.rfpaints.com
Enkaustikos: art supplies including encaustic: www.fineartstore.com
PVA (polyvinyl acetate) – Dick Blick, Utrecht, Daniel Smith (or .com)
Plexiglas - Plastic Tech in Ann Arbor: 734.665.3580
The Scrapbox in Ann Arbor for bits and pieces to use in mixed media


Other Blogs, websites, pages:
http://www.davisandcline.com/Artist-Detail.cfm?ArtistsID=372
http://encausticopolis.blogspot.com/
http://joannemattera.blogspot.com/
http://www.pbsartist.com/galleries.shtml
http://rfpaints.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/using-our-encaustic-gesso-for-tempera/
http://www.conradwildegallery.com/


Lynda Cole’s slide show: (used by permission): www.lcole.com/wax_and_fire_slideshow-Jan_09/

Supplies Needed. Some. Probably not all::

Supplies needed to get started:

:: Electric fry pan, or griddle or hot palette from rfpaints.com. Temperature control knob must have a range from 150˚ to 400˚. “Low” through “high” is not specific enough. A hot plate and pan will not work either.
:: One large package cupcake papers or a silicon cupcake baking pan or silicon baking cups. (You will need about a dozen.)
:: Reusable coffee filter, conical (not flat bottomed)
:: Cheap plastic or metal gravy ladle
:: Roll of “Viva” paper towels.
:: Tin cans, small sauce pans or metal containers to hold melted wax.


Supplies needed for the semester to be discussed at our first class:
:: One standard plumber’s torch from Home Depot or Ace Hardware. I would recommend one with a hose. You will also need a striker. This type has an adjustable flame and is far more dependable than less expensive set-ups.
:: 2 – 3 sheets of 1/2“ or 3/4” birch plywood size 16” X 24” (plus length of 1” X 2” for creating cradles.)
:: A variety of cheap brushes ie.) chip brushes 5 – 10. These run from 39¢ – 69¢ at Home Depot. No foam or synthetic brushes will do.
:: A selection of dry pigments and/or oil paints or R&F pigment paints (rfpaints.com) Here is a list of colors that will provide a good workable palette but you are not committed to these. Feel free to use your own color sense:
Cadmium Red Medium
Quinacridone Magenta
Burnt Sienna
Raw Sienna
Burnt Umber
Paynes Gray
Pthalocyanine Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Cadmium Yellow Lemon
Indian Yellow
Viridian Green
Titanium White +/or Zinc White


Supplies needed as we go along:
:: 1 – 2 sheet BFK or Arches white printing paper 22” X 30”
:: One pound Damar Crystals
:: Small piece medium or heavy weight raw (unprimed) cotton canvas
:: 8 oz. Dorlands Wax Medium
:: 8 or 16 oz. jar of gloss acrylic gel medium or PVA glue


*Please be aware that this is going to be a relatively messy medium. Wax can ruin clothing. Wear an apron or work-type clothing. Not shorts or skirts that leave skin exposed. Once tools are used with wax they cannot be used in the kitchen ie.) the frying pan or griddle or ladle etc.

Thought We Needed to See Some Wax::