March 2010 workshop

"This is so much fun" "I am so excited"
"I love it"
These and other enthusiastic comments peppered the two day workshop. Of course I love to hear that others are enjoying the encaustic experience as much as I. Five of the six participants are from Canada. These classes give me the opportunity to meet wonderful people that I might otherwise never met.

Next workshops

introductory encaustic workshops, March 29 & 30, and April 19 & 20. The first two days of the workshop, we will cover the basics of making and using the paint and heat sources. Demonstrations include: tools and techniques for fusing, layering and scraping/scribing, building up of texture, line and edge and collage.

The advanced technique workshops are April 1 & 2 and April 22 & 23.
The last two days we will focus on surfacing, embedding, transparencies, glazing and incising. We will explore assemblage, casting, carving, and working 3-Dimensionally, monotype, image transfer, combining oil and encaustic and dipping. You will have four finished paintings after the workshop. It is necessary to have experience in encaustic to utilize this advanced workshop.

I provide all materials necessary: wood panels, brushes, encaustic paint, oil paint, cutting tools, heat sources, and as much instruction as you wish, but you may want to bring some of the following:
* Special papers, collage elements, transfers
* Small objects to embed in the wax
* Drawings or images that you'd like to recycle

The cost is $200 U.S. or the equivalent in pesos, plus $25 materials fee. Checks or cash are acceptable. A 50% deposit is required at registration. contact me by email with any questions. ezshwan4art@yahoo.com.

San Miguel's first encaustic group show.

I am pleased with the diversity of art that makes up this first all encaustic show in San Miguel.
It was worth all the work of clearing out my studio, including the six work stations for the workshops, paintings the walls, it took several coats of paint to cover the spills, and drilling into the concrete wall to hang the art.

After I hung the work of the 22 participating artists, I was reminded of the uniqueness of the encaustic medium. No two artists work the same. Although each of them have taken at least one workshop with me, they incorporated the technique into their own styles.

We were blessed with live music through out the event and I believe that more than 150 people attended.

Here are some photos of before the crowd and after.

I have managed to make several new paintings between the workshops and the clearing out of my work from the studio. I realized that I was getting crabby and needed to get back to work. My cat was becoming as disturbed as I during the disorder.

These paintings have been in the works for several weeks and I may have finished them. I think it might be an interesting beginning of new series, that I am naming Joy and Freedom.

It took three days to empty my studio and gallery room so a fresh coat of paint could be applied and the wax dripping scraped off the floor. I am getting ready for a group encaustic show March 14. I've invited as many "graduates" from my encaustic workshops as possible to participate in the first all encaustic show in San Miguel.

Advanced encaustic workshop

Thursday and Friday were the advanced technique classes. Hugs and kisses closed the class. More friendships are blooming.The comments warmed my heart and convince me to keep offering these workshops. "This is so much fun!"; If you told me a week ago that I could do this, I wouldn't believe it" I hate to have this class over. I have learned so much."; When are you giving another workshop?" "Sign me up!"

Feb. introductory workshop

Monday and Tuesday, I had the pleasure of introducing encaustic to four artists. It was fun for all of us. I love to share all my experiences with this technique and I make new friends. I encourage the participants to bring their portfolios to share their work with us.

I had been saying that I've worked in encaustic for 10 years and then the other day, I noticed dates on some of my older pieces and it has been 12 years! And I still have new things to try.

Everyone but Curt is coming back to the studio tomorrow for the advanced techniques. Curt is leaving town, but will take the advanced class when he comes back to San Miguel next year.