Vacation with an artist

This is exciting. I've joined the @vawaa_ family! VAWAA (Vacation With An Artist) It offers mini apprenticeships with master artists and craftspeople all over the world. You can now book an Encaustic Painting adventure with me @VAWAA . Learn more or book via the link #vawaa #vacationwithanartist Check it out. this is a unique experience for adventurous travelers: https://vawaa.com/artists/ezshwan-encaustic-painting-san-miguel-allende-mexico ​

Latest In-studio Workshops

It is wonderful that more and more people are wanting to learn to paint with hot wax and resin. I love teaching and making new friends Covid safety protocals are in place with plenty of fresh air in the studio. The next 2 scheduled workshops will be painting figuratively in encaustic.

A Private Workshop

 I had a wonderful 2 day experience with Cindie last week. We wore masks and there was plenty of fresh air in the studio.

Cindie is a ceramist and wonted to try many encaustic techniques on her un glazed pieces. She also experimented painting flat on a milk paint prepared board.

Because the class was private, I could devote all my time and experience with various encaustic techniques Cindie; and once again I feel I made a new friend.

After the first day 3 different techniques.Sorry, I didn't get the 5 finished faces

                                                      photographed after the second day.

We worked on a metal jello mold to keep the fame of the torch from hitting the table. All my tables are covered in metal. Often I put paper over it to test the density of the colors.

Studio doors and windows open and ready to work

Here Cindie is adding transfers to her painting

She saved the big piece for last

First layer of encaustic medium

She used oil glazes under clear encaustic medium and encaustic paint

Private workshop:6 hours of individual attention: These are tailored to your needs; anything you want to learn and focus on. I am specializing in private classes, because so much can be accomplished.  You can take a cab ( taxis are inexpensive in San Miguel) or drive. Directions on my website; http://www.ezshwan.com/directions-to-studio.html

One day private workshop; $275 plus $40 materials fee 10 am to 4pm
Two day private workshop,; $550 $60 material fee
Some artists want the fast track to learning my techniques.
You will work side by side with me in my 
studio, creating your own work with direct input,
demos and suggestions from me.
The curriculum will be designed exactly to 
fit your needs.
deposit of $100 required.
​

Workshops in 2021, NO PRICE INCREASE IN 2 YEARS

THESE GROUP CLASSES ARE INTENDED FOR AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE.

 If you have 3 or more people interested,

 I will plan around your schedule.

Live Workshops IN 2021

 

Although I am not posting dates for 2021 group workshops yet,  

I feel that I will be able to offer in-studio  classes in a few months, 

still following health guidelines. 

There is fresh air from 3 sides of the studio.

San Miguel is very slow at offering the Covid vaccine, 

but we'll see what the future holds.
I miss teaching and meeting new artists and friends. 

I still will take one private student at a time.

Private workshop:6 hours of individual attention: These are tailored to your needs; anything you want to learn and focus on. I am specializing in private classes, because so much can be accomplished.  You can take a cab ( taxis are inexpensive in San Miguel) or drive. Directions on my website; http://www.ezshwan.com/directions-to-studio.html

One day private workshop; $275 plus $40 materials fee 10 am to 4pm
Two day private workshop,; $550 $60 material fee
Some artists want the fast track to learning my techniques.
You will work side by side with me in my 
studio, creating your own work with direct input,
demos and suggestions from me.
The curriculum will be designed exactly to 
fit your needs.
deposit of $100 required.
​

Workshops in 2021, NO PRICE INCREASE IN 2 YEARS

THESE GROUP CLASSES ARE INTENDED FOR AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE.

 If you have 3 or more people interested,

 I will plan around your schedule.

THESE ENCAUSTIC GROUP CLASSES 

ARE INTENDED FOR AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE.

One Day Workshops: 

$125 USD plus $25 materials fee 10 am to 4pm

Two Day Workshops:

 $250 USD plus $40 materials fee 10am to 4 pm

Three Day Intensive: 

$350 USD plus $60 materials fee. 10 am to 4 pm

A deposit of $100 required at registration. 

The remainder of the fee can be paid the first day of class, 

in pesos at the exchange rate of the day, or a U.S. check

Day 1 & 2 of the encaustic workshop will cover all the basics, 

including information about how to make paint,

 about the commercial paints and their applications, 

about supports, grounds and techniques: 

paint application, fusing, glazing, inscribing 

and mixed media approaches, safety, materials,

 demos of applying paint, glazing, fusing, 

How to get that smooth surface! Introducing mixed media, 

creating lines and texture.

I will emphasize how these techniques 

can be developed to create a unique encaustic language 

for each student. 

I will talk (and demo) how to create glaze layers, 

as well as some special techniques like inscribing. 

You will leave with a printout containing

 all the information you need as well as a list of suppliers.

I give participants a thorough introduction to the encaustic medium method.

 Artists with backgrounds in almost any medium will find 

these workshops are an exciting opportunity 

to expand their visual vocabulary with wax. 

Some who attend have some familiarity with encaustic, 

others don't, but want to expand their artistic experience.

 This mix of artists adds to the learning experience

 and often inspires all to try new techniques.

In the advanced classes, we focus on 

surfacing, embedding, transparencies, 

glazing and hot pen, image transfers, 

India ink mark making and more. 

We will explore combining oil and encaustic and dipping. 

You should have several finished paintings after the workshops.

I will supply all the materials, encaustic paint.

 brushes, support panels, electric tools, 

scrapers and propane torches, 

as well as showing how you can make your own paints

 and set up your own encaustic studio.

If you want to bring some things to collage you can.

 Old drawings or prints or photographs

 can combine with encaustic, 

but the paper must be porous and not glossy or coated. 

Encaustic works with almost anything but acrylic or plastics.

Experiment with all the materials and

 create your own finished encaustic paintings in class.

The workshops are held in my home studio

 from 10 a.m. to  4p.m. each day. 

This allows the participants hundreds of examples 

of my encaustic painting over the last 16 years, 

including "what not to do!"

Cancellations 2 weeks before the workshop 

will receive a full refund. 

1 week before, 30% will be refunded. 

No deposit refunds after that.

Painting Sale

San Miguel is unusually quiet with most galleries, restaurants and events closed for who know how long.

I keep very busy. In fact there does not seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish all I wish to do.

I finished the Color Healing series, and created a color healing meditation: https://vimeo.com/404105471

And tackled the big job of going through every painting I had in storage, arranging them in series and labeling them. I re-visited old paintings that I am still proud of and found a few that I will paint over, since I was satisfied with them.

Here is the finished project:

even got all the dust removed

Since I have not received art tours, studio visits and students, I felt it was time to offer some of my older painting at 50%, so I can make room for new creations.

The following paintings are half price for a limited time and there is a special price on international shipping for a while.

The sale starts now and will be active until June 4. 

"Building Blocks" 24' x 24", encaustic on cradled board. Original price, $1200, now $600 dollar

"Playful Patterns" encaustic on cradled. Original price $1300, now $650

"Mystic Trail" 24" x24" encaustic on cradled board, $1200 now $600

"Tumbling Leaves' 24" x 24" encaustic on cradled board, $1200, now $600600

Metamorphosis, mixed media on board, oil, encaustic,  23.5" x 16" with a simple black frame
$750 now $375

Transformation , #1, 20" x 24" cold wax and oil on canvas, $875, now $425 

Transformation #2, 23.5 x 16" oil, cold wax and encaustic on board, framed.
$750 now $375

Metamorphosis #4 Mixed Media on Board, 23.5" x 16" black frame, $750 now $375

Healing with Color

Here is one of my favorite paintings from the Lightness of Being Series. After working for about 16 months on this series, I have moved on to a Color Healing Series.

On of the red paintings is shown on Saatchi Art: https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Exuberance/312358/7556337/view.  You can click the link to see it.

Also, I made a Color Healing video that some people have found to be helpful in this time of isolation and stress. https://vimeo.com/404105471

I am not in the studio everyday now. I am inspired to start a vegetable garden. When the muse awakens me again. I will go back to create more color healing painting.