Advanced workshop

We just finished the last of the four days and I know I had as much fun as the participants. This makes the thirty seventh workshop in the last few years.Everything in my studio is covered in encaustic.

I love sharing the encaustic technique and watching the original pieces that everyone creates. I photograph all the participants and keep the images in albums to share with all.








At the end of our time together, I feel I have made new friends and have opened up a new creative adventure for others. For more information go to my website="http://www.ezshwan.com">

December workshops

Monday and Tuesday I had the introductory encaustic workshop. It was fun, as always, to share this beautiful technique with others. It's a day off today and tomorrow and Friday we have the advanced techniques workshop. The weather is beautiful so I can keep the doors and windows of the studio open for light and air.

Gem series

I finished 13 of the small, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" paintings. The finishing of the frames took a couple of days, but I like the look of the box frame. They can stand on a table or shelf or hang on a wall.

soul searching

Whew! It's been a challenging time in the studio. The pressure of an upcoming solo show is over for the time being, and I have been experimenting with abstracts and photos with encaustic. Actually, I have just been printing out old photos on my HP printer on regular paper. For years I believed that I couldn't combine these prints with encaustic. Well, it works just fine.

After the figurative work I have been finding it difficult to feel that the abstract has the same deep meaning for me. I am working small, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" using lots of layers, lightly tinted encaustic paint,some oil sticks and plenty of scraping. It is starting to be more fun. I hope I am not making just decorative art. See the examples above.

A time of witness

Here are a few of the 13 faces I made.