Scriber's Web

This one with a real blow torch! Yeah!



And coming to terms with simplicity! This was my favorite piece!

Last year, when I was first armed with a digital camera, my goal was to get into one show. Have my artwork display at one public place. I tried and tried and tried. And accumulated rejection letters. One after the other. But then I finally got a break. And them some more.
One thing about exhibiting photography is that it is a cut throat world. I mean that literally. The photography world is not filled with nice people. They fight. A lot. And everyone wants an entire wall to themselves so they can display their art. I met this lady who I shall call Jane who always wanted a wall to herself. So it became a joke to me. The wall of Scriber. 

Since no one was that interested in my artwork, I created a gallery in my house and called it the Wall of Scriber.

Last weekend, my friend A. and I got together to do some encaustics. A. liked the heating gun.



Layer of wax/encaustics medium applied and sealed with a heating gun.


We then had to make a run to the grocery store to pick up some coffee beans. She then carefully placed the beans and applied heat to it. Oh the aroma of coffee was so very wonderful!


Here she is. Armed and dangerous.

PS: Thanks to the kind lady, I already know which side goes up.

Off I go. Will update this post as I go along.

Update 1:


Wax layer done. On to assembly.






Update 2:


I hope you were not riveted to this fascinating adventure. If you sat by your computer and kept hitting refresh to see what I was doing, well sorry... I took a nap.


Here is the next step.




Update 3: 


Son1 called to ask about the final piece. I have to say that this is the stupidest idea I have had in a long time. Perhaps ever since I have been blogging. Sigh.






This piece is not done yet. But I am going to go now.


See you tomorrow!

 

So I finally got around buying all the supplies for encaustics.

Let me tell you something. That it is not an inexpensive hobby. You need lots and lots of supplies. Most people have stuff like that sitting around in the house. But not me. I am not a tools kinda gal. I mean who has a heating gun sitting around in their house?

Not me.

You'll see the supply list at the end of this post and then you will understand.

I am kinda broke right now and so I dragged and dragged my feet about it. But I got a paycheck recently so I decided to buy all the supplies for encaustics. Heck with it. Life is short.

And although I was struggling with a stomach virus this weekend, I managed to get the supplies and create some pieces. They are still drying so I'll take photos and post as soon as they are done.

So here are the supplies you will need. The prices of courses will vary depending on where you live.

One time purchase..

Electric Griddle: 10-25 dollars @ Target
Heating Gun: 23 dollars @ Home Depot
One omelete pans: 6 dollars each at HEB

More supplies...

Encaustics medium: A kit at an art supply store cost me approximately 50 dollars.
Soy Wax to clean brushes: 10 dollars at an art store
Natural Brushes: 1 dollar each at an art store
Panels: Home depot. That is another post coming up soon.

So there you have it. Encaustics is expensive. But it is so much fun and rewarding.

If you try it, do tell.

So yesterday, I went to the most amazing encaustics workshop ever. Taught by the uber talented artist Sharon Kyle Kuhn, it was the most fun I've ever had with beeswax, wooden panel and a heating gun.

For those who don't know, encaustics is an ancient art. It was almost a lost art form until artists like Sharon revived it. Not only did she revive it, she also made it current and relevant for today's world. I am a HUGE fan of her artwork. Unlike faux arteests like me, she is a true artist. I mean who wakes up in the morning and goes... today I am going to take a mother board, glue it to a wooden panel and pour hot lime-green wax over it.

How creative!

So these are some pieces I made yesterday.




Some commonly asked questions about this form of art.

Is this a new art form?

Nope. It is an ancient art.

Will the wax melt?

Nope. Typically, you add a resin to the beeswax that prevents it from melting.






In this workshop, we used found objects to embed in the artwork. I used some leftover Italian yarn. But you can use any thing from leaves, to beads, to wine corks to anything. And instead of color pigments, you can add turmeric, red pepper, saffron etc.

Fun. Right?

So what do you think I should call these pieces?