I am an encaustic painter who has been experimenting with beeswax, resin, and pigment for over a decade. The word Encaustic means to “burn in” the technique is a progression of liquid to solid, as properties change throughout the creative process. It is a continued evolution of movement and fragility that ironically results in an enduring piece of art. After each layer of beeswax is applied, it cools and then is fused to the previous layer using heat. The result is a translucent image created by multiple layers, some clearly seen while others may be a mere suggestion.
I use a wide variety of materials to generate images including inks, oil sticks, and pigmented shellac. A variety of techniques are also employed such as scribing, scraping and burning, along with embedding objects. Sometimes, papers as precious as my father’s architectural renderings or French legal documents from the 1800’s are given a new and preserved life in beeswax.
Originally from Cranston, Rhode Island, I earned a BFA in textile design from the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth. Many of my landscapes are inspired by the New England coast with color pallets representing both sea and snow. Additionally, I have taken inspiration from the marshes of the Carolina low country as well as the crests of the Blue Ridge.
