Encaustic Beginners

Yesterday I spent a day with two beautiful sisters,  from Texas. They are visiting San Miguel de Allende with their parents.

They had never tried encaustic and they only had one day to experience painting with hot wax and torches.

Perhaps, because they came with no expectation, and are young and open, they picked up the technique fast.

Here's what they produced by the end of the day.

Sydney

Katelyn

2 more private encaustic students

Tuesday and Wednesday of this week I had the privalige of sharing lots of advanced encaustic techniques with 2 more class participants. I feel as if not only am I sharing much of my encaustic experience, I am making new friends.

Lucy

Carol

Dana from North Carolina

I was privileged to meet another artist, who came to San Miguel for the first time to take a three day private workshop with me.

Dana has been a working artist for years, specializing in murals and faux finishing, but never tried encaustic before. We covered everything from the basics of the history, ventilation, making medium to advanced techniques. She had a natural feel for the torch and immediately created glass-like surfaces and moved into more texturing.

During our break time we shared our stories and became better acquainted.

Using the hot pen to build dots and lines

I love giving the private classes. We can cover a lot.

Positive Private Classes

At last count, I have taught about 90 encaustic workshops over the last 10 years, and have met wonderful artists, would-be artists and just great people who wanted to experiment with creating art with hot wax and resin. Several of my artist friends here in San Miguel de Allende , who learned the tecnique from me, have continued to work in this medium and make it their own.

I still get requests for workshops, but at this point in my life, (I am 81 years old), I find it far more satisfying to give private classes to people who have specific goals and questions about advanced techniques in encaustic. I can work side by side with them and much can be accomplished in a one or two day class. Both myself and the student have a great time and often develop lasting friendships.

I have stopped posting workshop dates and if at least 3 people are interested in a workshop, I will schedule one; however with the private students, I can arrange a date that works for both of us.

translucent layers and hot pen

oil, encaustic and transfers

photos, collage and encasutic

Working in her own direction

Painting a face with a private student

Bren, a lovely woman from Georgia came to San Miguel for her first visit and to take a class with me.

She had her list of questions on technique and especially wanted to learn how to paint faces in encaustic. After my demo, I had her start on a tinted board, concentrating on breaking up the face into shapes and tones.

working from my "portrait" palette; powdered pigment and encaustic medium

End of the day = a face in encaustic

She bought her portrait and took it to its new home in Georgia. She was one of my 50 Faces Project

Private students get what they want

 Here is the live link to the discounted online classes https://vimeo.com/r/1zMI/NUdEL3c0MU

I really like working one on one with private encaustic students. We can focus on exactly the technique and what  they want to accomplish in the 5 1/2 hours that we work together.

Julia wanted to learn how to combine the photo her husband took with her painting style. We made a transfer of this wonderful photo and she applied it to the board after putting down a good base of encaustic. She had had no previous experience in encaustic, so we went from the basics to her completed painting.

See what can be done in one day with me working side by side with you. I demo on another board, offer suggestions, but encourage the student to create their own vision.

Finished painting - her first encaustic painting

close up of finished painting

Sharing my 60 years of art experience

In the past year, there has been few requests for a group workshops and most of the artists want specific techniques. I have been giving more private classes that can be arranged to suit your schedule and focus on exactly what you would like to learn.

I offer a side-by-side class where I work only with you for 5 1/2 hours. We actually can cover more in one day than in a two day workshop with several people.

 I supply primed boards, and all the other materials, including the encaustic paint, brushes torches and almost any tool you might like to try.
 

The cost is $250 U.S. or peso equivalent + $20 for materials. My students almost always leave with a few finished paintings.

You may want to consider a private class.

charcoal , encaustic, shellac

Student painting

carved encaustic and hot pen

advanced techniques encasutic workshop

layering encaustic glazes over transfers and collage

the success of experimenting

The simple paintings were something different for Larry

First layers for Judith before she added the heavy textures

The canine guest didn't need anything, but to be part of the group

Judith experimenting with the hot pen

finished painting

Here is how we end the workshops

After the end of all workshops, we stop for a glass of wine and discussion of the class. Yesterday was the 91st class I have given. I keep adding more and more techniques to the advanced workshops. It is my pleasure to share all that I know.

Advanced and private classes

Bob, an architect, trying his hand at creating in hot wax and resin

Janice is an accomplished artist with recent show in the museum in Florence Italy

 

Lori had a private class and used almost every technique possible in encaustic

Lori's first creation: photo printed on rice paper, transfers, India ink, incised lines, raised lines with the hot pen, charcoal, wax pencil, oil glazes, burnt shellac. No wonder she was full of ideas how add new techniques to her work when she gets back to her own studio.