Pat Wheeler's work, made during the week of our class
After a long day of travel I’m finally here at in beautiful Beaverly, Mass., for the annual encaustic conference.
Look for blog updates here starting tomorrow, but first I want to share images from the class I took last week with Patricia Wheeler, The Architecture of Memory, at the Oregon College of Art & Craft. (BTW, the internet connection here is terrible so I’ll have to keep this short.)
I’ve wanted to take her class for three years now but have never been able to make it happen. This year the dates were tough, the week before this conference, but I decided to go for it and I’m glad I did! I’ve been using joint compound as a textural base in my paintings off and on for a couple of years, but I knew Pat could help me talk it to a new level. The work below is not encaustic — we worked with thin acrylic washes and cold wax — but many of the techniques I learned last week will be compatible with a few changes.
This is the work I created during the week. Love those edges!
One of my paintings in the early stages, with the acrylic under painting and a first coat of joint compound
Dayna Collins starting a large panel. Click the photo to see more on her blog.
This tree on campus fascinated me. The trunk is wrapped with bright red yarn!
Steph Brockway making an image transfer
My first attempt, 8" x 8"
The largest of my panels, 30" x 30"
That's a dried artichoke in the niche, along with image transfers of the same plant
This might be my favorite, very different for me.
4 comments
June 5, 2009 at 6:42 am
Sharron
Thanks for taking the time to post this. I know Beverly; our annual Nature Printing Society (www.natureprintingsociety.info) workshop was there a few years ago at Endicott College.
The work from your class is intriguing. My favorite is your “first attempt” – it pulls me way in, and then beyond the surface.
Are these boards or canvas? What are the ones with niches called? I found a very dimensional chunk of wasp nest the other day — I need to make an encaustic with a niche!
Just sent three more gyotaku encaustics to the Ketchikan gallery. The Jack Salmon sold quickly, and others — foliage ones too — have also moved along. Thank you again for your great teaching!
Sharron
June 5, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Erin Leichty
Linda- I especially love your favorite one! It is so cool. I actually thought it looked most like your encaustics. I hope you are having a great time. I can’t wait to hear all your stories and trade ideas about encautic vs drywall. Talk to you soon!
June 12, 2009 at 10:31 am
Jamie
On My First Attempt 8×8 (not a half bad title : ) – do you see the man in blue reaching/falling/jumping/diving into the black flames below? That caught my eye immediately. I’m assuming it was an unintentional bonus, but very cool First Attemps, and gret work over all.
Jamie
June 14, 2009 at 8:49 am
embracingencaustic
Hey Jamie, I do see him now that you mention it. Nope, not intended at all but that’s fun to find. We’re flying home today…miss those doggies.