Spring Renewed: ArtPrize 2010

The time has finally come to show you what I have been working on for many, many hours recently.

I have the honor of entering and showing my artwork in ArtPrize 2010. Click here for more info on ArtPrize.

For this years entry I decided to try my hand at Encaustic Wax. Encaustic wax is basically beeswax, resin, and pigment mixed together and heated. I used my good old electric skillet to do the job. I should add that I really don't cook so don't worry about me not being able to use it for "food" use in the future. I applied the wax in layers with a paintbrush (a real one, not a synthetic one) in between the wax layers I would heat the painting up with my good 'ole Stampin' Up! heat gun to fuse the layer together.

The painting is made up of three canvases each 12" x 48". The painting was created so it could hang either all three pieces together, like in the picture, alone, or even vertically. I really like pieces that let the "owner" decide how they should go. There is no right or wrong for this painting.

Here is a close up of the grass. You can see the different layers and texture that the wax allows me to create. I also used some wax medium to make a glaze with the pigmented wax for even more texture.
Budding tree tops. Can you see the depth that I was able to create by using a glaze technique.

The good 'ole spring sky.

Side view of the paintings.

If you are in the Michigan area you can see my work at the Ottawa Tavern in Downtown Grand Rapids, on Ottawa st, in the Water's Building. Enjoy!