Encaustic Art

Discovering Encaustic Art

I fell in love with Encaustic art during one of my creative getaways—those special vacation moments when I could fully immerse myself in making. I was fortunate to learn from Andrea Bird[1], a gifted artist who generously shared her time and knowledge during weeklong summer courses. Later, I continued my journey with Supria Karmaker, whose soulful approach introduced me to new techniques and encouraged me to incorporate elements of spirituality into my work.

I find the Encaustic medium organic and freeing in the sense that you cannot hold on what you want to do with “painting” as the wax has a way of being what it needs to be and develops into something that has more meaning and relevance than you try to impose upon it. Plus of course it is so fragrant! 

Working with encaustic feels like a dance with nature itself – fluid, fragrant, and full of surprises. The wax doesn’t just take direction; it leads, evolving into something deeper and more meaningful than anything I could plan. It’s liberating to let go and let the medium speak for itself. Encaustic painting is pure magic. The wax moves with its own rhythm – organic, fragrant and totally freeing. I never know what it’ll become; it always speaks louder than my intentions. Letting go is part of the beauty.

Today, my art is a fusion of storytelling, texture, and meaning. Grounded in a lifelong passion for creating, a desire to connect through expression and quiet spirituality, and a belief in the healing power of the creative process.

My Artist Statement

I am inspired by nature in all its forms.  The natural world, its flora, fauna, and the intricate dance of human interaction within it, offers endless fascination. I believe that both our connection to nature and our relationships with one another are deeply worthy of an artist's gaze.

My work explores the tension and harmony between perceived natural shapes and the interplay of positive and negative space, light and shadow. Colour, in my practice, is not bound by realism but liberated by emotion and intuition. I use it freely, with dramatic license, to express the spirit of creation rather than its literal form.

Collage elements often find their way into my work, allowing me to layer meaning, texture, and memory. These fragments - whether found, created, or repurposed - add depth and narrative, inviting viewers to explore the interplay between the organic and the constructed.

To be constrained by convention is to be bound by dogma. Creativity for me is a pathway to personal truth - a way to communicate what cannot be said in words. Through art I seek to offer a commentary on the world we inhabit, to reflect on identity, and to share truth.

Art is a privilege. It is my way of seeing, feeling, and connecting.

[1] Unfortunately, we lost Andrea in 2024. However, her legacy lives on with her vision of the Canadian Encaustic Conference