New Encaustic Classes

 Where did the time go? I just realized that I haven't posted since August. Well. I was working on 12 new paintings and when I am involved in a series, I do forget about time. Check them out here: http://www.ezshwan.com/transformed-portraits.html

. The last advanced encaustic techniques videos were made 7 years ago and they are still valuable and instructive since all the basic instructions remain the same.   https://vimeo.com/ondemand/4167  I am missing my students and I am planning on creating new online classes with techniques that I haven't taught before

What I will be offering in the new classes:

Basic studio practices

Making milk paint for a white base for encaustic

Handling the heat source to get the results you want. 

Water color underpainting 

Rice paper collage

Drawing with a hot pen

Mark making with oil sticks, China marker, India ink, charcoal

Creating a smooth surface 

Texturizing with carving and/or water

How to make and apply a laser transfer

Stenciling with encaustic and/or cold wax, pan pastels

Using translucent layers

Cold wax over encaustic

Composition

Mixing colors

Benefits of an online class:

You do not have to buy all the supplies at first

You can stop any time without missing anything. 

Hours of unlimited access for a one time charge of $125 .

Private Zoom classes to work together one on one, and a critique, of your work, One hour for $50. 

If you are in San Miguel we could also plan a in person class. See video

Are you feeling anxious and/or lonely?

 We all are experiencing different emotions, moods and. thought at this challenging time.

I am curious. How are you are coping? 

It hasn't been particularly difficult for me, since I work at home and am used to alone time.

This has been a creative time for me. Some people I know are catching up on home repairs, putting together complicated puzzles, writing, gardening or drinking a lot.

Together with my daughter Cynthia Hamilton and another artist, Donna Stewart, we created a 2 week pop up store/gallery in a popular and beautiful restaurant in the center of San Miguel de Allende.

I am here today, meeting new people - with careful social distancing and wearing masks. These masks, by Maskology, https://www.facebook.com/maskology.online/ are one of a kind, beautiful, 3 layers with a built in filter. It is an interesting experience, including a few critics of mask wearing. I believe Mexican have a very difficult time with social distancing, hugging and avoiding festive gathering. I miss that too.

The photos below show our space 

Here are a couple of Donna Stewart's abstract paintings;

What will I do next week? I hope to redesign my website and continue posting paintings on online gallery sites.

I Want to Share My Encaustic Experience

I really miss teaching encaustic workshops. I started teaching over 15 years ago here in San Miguel de Allende, MX.

Staying at home has not been hard for me, since I like the quiet, catching up with all the things that needed action, like painting the kitchen and organizing every painting in the storage stacks. But and it is a big but, I miss connecting with other artists and students who came to my classes. I met wonderful people and many of them became lasting friends.

Monday, I had my first private introduction to encaustic class on Zoom. It was great. We covered a lot, had a demo and answered any and all questions. I continued to suggest options afterward by email.

Please check out the possibility of joining me online , I have had 20 years of encaustic experience and I love to share.
click on the link below for details.

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2886832932893162816#editor/target=post;postID=4199660560908075897;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname

Here are some samples of my encaustic work; all have been sold.

Much More Than Learning A Technique

I have been doing a lot of teaching lately; not only encaustic, but also cold wax and oil, drawing and painting portraits.

In all my classes, I not only teach you a technique, but also composition, seeing shapes, color mixing and more.

Se some recent examples of student work:

This is the result of the first two days of the intro to encaustic

Impressive work after the first 2 days. She made about 5 paintings

Lots of encaustic and tools are available

A lovely charcoal drawing from one of my young students

Another young student is learning to paint portraits in oil. This was a challenging one

A wonderful professional artist add the cold wax and oil technique to her list of tools.

Is It Easy Being Green?

Latest in my color series: GREEN

 I remember Kermit the Frog's problems with being green, but green is the color of the heart chakra. You may remember that I mentioned that I had been a student of the power of color for years, taught color seminars for Ethan Allen stores and wrote a book, "The Power Of Color, available on Kindle.

This one is titled, Listen to "The Love Within" 

Notice my bow to Klimt; gold and many patterns

Lots of carving, hot pen build up and gold leaf.

Green is the master healer. It suggests balance, love and  restoration. It is the color absorbed by the heart center and strongly influences the heart and nerves. The green ray brings a feeling of renewal, new life, freshness and brightness, rather like the awakening of spring.

Do You Love Blue?

The last post I shared, was about the color red and the mostly red encaustic painting I had just finished; now sold.

Here is there blue one. "Starry Night" Encaustic on cradled board.

"Blue is a passive and restful color. Blood pressure can lower and the heartbeat and respiration can slow down. Blue indices a feeling of tranquility, contentment and addiction. It is cooling, refuting and is the color of the throat chakra.

Psychologically, the blue ray quiets the mind and helps us to establish the felling of peace. It can be depressing if ones feeling sad. In that case the energy of red of orange is needed. Blue is the color of truth, peace. poise and serenity.

Azure and sapphire blue indicates truth and inspiration, harmony, calmness, courtesy and happiness, both eternal and spiritual. Dark blue indicates refinement. Pale blue equals simplicity, innocence and candor. Electric blue magnetizes the personality. Indigo sdenotes intuition and spiritual perception. This color steadies or slows the energy and is good for meditation and devotional practises. Aqua caries clarity."

From my book, The Power of Color available as a Kindle download.

"Starry Night" 32" x 40" available, $

What is Your Favorite Color?

What is your favorite color?

I am inspired to create a new series about the power of color. So far I have completed the red painting, "Tumbling Joy"" and I'm almost finished with a blue one.

Encaustic 32" x 40" Tumbling Joy

 I have been studying color for many years; I used this information in my color seminars when I worked for 3 Ethan Allen stores. It was the most popular seminar I presented  When I introduced his color presentation, I asked participants to write their name tags in their favorite color, but had to stop that practice, when they realized how much their color choices told others about their personalities.



I wrote a book about the power of color. The book  shows you how your color choices influence your health and emotions; how color touches you even if you don’t notice it or understand its force. The specific vibrations of each color triggers your personal energy field. It affects your moods, health and general well being. 60% of a person’s reaction to any situation is said to be based on color.
 Once you know a person's color preferences, you will be able to understand her better. This is available on Kindle.

Here is the process of the blue painting: