About Encaustic Monotypes
Encaustic is an ancient medium that pre-dates oil painting. It is composed of pigmented beeswax tempered with Damar resin (hardened tree sap) that is kept molten by heating while painting or e printmaking. The paint drives instantly as it cools. It is known for permanence and resistance to damage from moisture, air and insects. The encaustic surface is characterized by lush surfaces and translucent layers of color.
Encaustic monotypes are created by using pigmented, bar-shaped "sticks" made of that same material. The artist works on an aluminum plate mounted on top of an enclosed box that contains light bulbs, with a thermostat to control the level of heat transmitted to the metal top. As the artist draw the sticks across the hot surface they melt, allowing for a free-flowing design opportunity that can be advance by applying different rubber combs and brush tips, introducing stencils, and other texturing techniques. When the design is complete, a piece of rice paper is carefully placed on top of the plate, a roller is applied, and then the paper is lifted off, drying immediately. It is a process of controlled and uncontrollable surprises, and spontaneity of texture, color and transparency is exciting and inspiring.
I find the use of these finished prints offer infinite opportunities. Simply framing them for their beauty as is, cutting them up, mounting them on foam core and tossing the pieces around in a spontaneous arrangement, folding, rolling and mixing the paper with glass, clay, fiber, seed pods, shells and other natural ingredients - such a limitless creative adventure!
About the Encaustic Monotype Process
