Dabbling in Wax

Workshop Inspirations for 2012

2012-01-02T11:04:00.001-08:00

Eight is Enough workshops will be launched at Encaustication beginning this Friday, January 6th with an Artist Trading Card workshop (as of right now, there are only 3 seats left, so be sure to look for Encaustication events on http://eventbrite.com to register). Here are some workshop ideas I've been tossing around. Let me know your thoughts!

Spirit Boxes: A Personal Mixed Media Journey Many people find ways to express their feelings through journaling, art, music, or a combination of methods of self-expression. Sometimes, you need something more symbolic to really get a memory or feeling out of your system. I have found that through Spirit Boxes, you can create a receptacle for the memories you'd like to treasure, or conversely a place to "lock up" feelings or memories you'd like to move past. In this 3-hour workshop, we will explore therapeutic journaling and the creation of your own mixed media spirit box.
Encaustics for Novices For the complete beginner, an introduction to encaustic medium! A 3-hour workshop that will walk you through the basics of working with encaustic wax. You will leave feeling confident that you too can create a palette at home for working in wax:) We'll not only play with wax, but we'll discuss the most affordable ways of setting up your own station at home without laying out a huge investment.
Beeswax Collage What do you get when you combine paper, ephemera, and beeswax? A relaxing good time with your art buddies! Spend three quality hours with friends playing with beeswax (not encaustic medium) and creating beautiful collage pieces for your home.
Art Journaling: An Introduction to the Creative Process If you've always loved looking through scrumptious art journals but have been afraid to take the leap on your own, this is a great place to start. In thhis 3-hour workshop, you will learn there are no rules when it comes to art journaling, which means there are no mistakes! We'll learn several techniques to get your creative juices flowing and you'll go home with your first art journal, with several pages already started:)

Live the dream:)

Brenda

Encaustication is Up and Running!

2011-12-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

The dream is now a reality! Encaustication Art Studio and Workshops is now open for business....at least "most Fridays and Saturdays", when I'm in town. No set hours, but a girl's got to start somewhere....right?

The absolute best part of this move has been that I've been able to sort, organize and find a place for everything. My home studio has been so jam-packed for so long, that it was next to impossible to get anything done, let alone have clarity of thought to spark a creative moment. It is pure joy to walk into a clean, organized space and get right to work!

So far, the space has been used to host a few events for co-workers: knitting group and brainstorming. It seems to be a "good space", and I'll start hosting my "8 is Enough" workshops in January. I'll kick things off with an informal monthly Artist Trading Card themed make & take get-together one Friday evening each month. January's theme will be New Beginnings....registration is now open!

Live the dream:)

Brenda

Studio Space for Encaustication!

2011-09-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Since returning from EncaustiCamp 2011, my mind has been buzzing with ideas for my work. One thing I learned is that I am an Artist. For too long, I have shied away from that term, thinking to myself that I couldn't use it until I was doing it full-time and making a living at it. To appease my analytical mind, I officially set my studio up as a business: Encaustication, LLC.

I've purchased the web address (www.encaustication.com) and just designed the logo! Let me know what you think (it only took 2 months to force it onto paper!). My other hurdle is space. My studio is currently taking up a spare bedroom in our home. While this is more space than I've ever had, I find myself lacking in adequate work table space, and my current storage set-up leaves me wondering where key supplies are stowed "this time". I have been looking around and found a great spot for a real studio about a block from my house in Steinmeier Station. This particular space is approximately 750 square feet with a private entrance. The ceilings are high, with great light, and it seems to have most things I would want/need. Now, the hard part----which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Do I get my business started and website running first, hoping the space is still open six months down the road, or do I grab the space, move-in and then get my business going?

By the way, in case you were wondering----what is Encaustication? It's a combination of my true loves: bookmaking, art journaling, and encaustic painting! I plan to make and sell custom art journals that are bound with covers finished in encaustic medium. These journals won't be the kind you sit down and write your thoughts in per se, but more like the kind you play, create and inspire yourself with as you fill the pages of canvas, mixed media papers, envelopes, etc. All this creative play-space enclosed in the yummy goodness of original encaustic book cover panels. In the meantime.....decisions, decisions....

Live the dream:)

Brenda

Crystal's Adornments in Wax

2011-08-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Before attending EncaustiCamp 2011, I had it in my head that encasutic wax was meant for rigid surfaces only. It makes sense, and that is what I had been taught....up until NOW!

First, Bridgette Guerzon Mills opens me up to the idea of combining bookmaking with encaustic wax, but then on Day 2: Crystal Neubauer blew all of my assumptions out of the water with the introduction of creating small, three-dimensional adornments and jewelry out of rebar wire and waxed paper.

Not much of a jewelry maker myself, I felt I was really opening myself up to trying something new with Crystal's class. I quickly found that I needn't limit myself to brooches and pendants, and struck out to create a few pieces in the "Christmas-ornament-sized" scale of adornments.

My first attempt was an old, but true design I created many years ago for my Mom, when she was raising and showing Siamese cats. This particular design has always been a little difficult to shrink down to the size of wearable jewelry, but at 6" in height, it makes a wonderful tree ornament for the holidays.

A single piece of rebar wire was first sanded, then bent to the proper shape, in one continuous line. The paper was selected, dipped in encaustic medium and allowed to dry or harden. The waxed paper was then cut to fit the wire and additional medium was applied in small quantities as I pressed the paper forms to the wire outline.

I ended up creating six or seven completed pieces, incorporating found objects and 3-D embellishments to truly get into the mixed media possibilities this new technique had to offer me. I'm pleased to say, every single piece (despite being somewhat fragile) made it home to Indianapolis in my checked luggage!

Live the dream:) Brenda

Jesi's steampunk pendant

105% pendant

EncaustiCamp 2011, Part 1

2011-07-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

One week ago, I was standing in a junior high school quadrant listening to Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch as she welcomed the first group of artists to her vision of EncaustiCamp. I was so excited to be a part of this very special event and had been looking forward to it for many months. I'm happy to report that my expectations were fulfilled...and then some!

July in Salem, Oregon....attending a "camp" dedicated to the art of encaustic wax? HELLO....I'm there! The day started with a whirlwind caravan of campers invading the art spaces of Portland after meeting up at Voodoo Donuts: SCRAP....Muse...then wandering through the Pearl District before heading south to Salem. What a wonderful way to get to know fellow artists and adventurers! After a few map mishaps, I finally made my way to campus in time for Trish's welcome speech and evening demonstration to kick-off the 3-day camp.

My first day was spent with instructor Bridgette Guerzon Mills, encaustic book artist extraordinaire! She shared her work, her knowledge, her techniques, and herself with the entire group. Incorporating encaustic painting with bookmaking and transfer techniques were exciting enough. But then.....she introduced us to the union of paper and encaustic wax to create pages within our trifold books. I was immediately in love with this new technique!

Encouraging us to work with our own photographic images and create a theme for our books, I focused on jellyfish and then added some candid photos of my daughter at the beach. The final product......Jellyfish Beach Book.

My triumph of the day was to successfully transfer a color photo to my waxed paper page, which turned out to have a wonderfully aged look:

Day one ended with a great meal, made fresh with local produce. This was followed by an Instructor Q&A led by Trish. I drove back to the hotel that evening with my mind abuzz with new ideas, inspiration, and of course---wonderful wax!

EncaustiCamp is too much to share in one post, so until next time....

Live the dream:) Brenda

Inspired 2011: One Month Later

2011-06-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

Last year, my friend Debbie and I attended Donna Downey's Inspired art retreat in Charlotte, NC for the first time. We were blown away by the entire event, from the level of professionalism, to the variety of classes, and the overall "feeling" of excitement by the attendees.

I was fortunate enough to win a trip for two to Inspired 2011 as the raffle grand prize winner last year. So, Debbie and I made our way back again last month. I can't believe a month has passed since I was meeting new people in Charlotte, and learning that it was to be the "final" Inspired event, at least in this format. Despite the sad feeling, after learning it was to be the final Inspired, we had an even better time than we did in 2010! The atmosphere was laid-back, the classes were wonderful and diverse, and we met lots of new people from all over the country. Our "dynamic duo" became a trio, when we instantly connected with Molly from Atlanta. The three of us are researching venues for next year, looking for that "perfect retreat" that speaks to the three of us and calls our names to get away from our daily lives and become Inspired, once again. If you have any recommendations, please post a comment!

So, what have I done to remain Inspired in the past month? I carry my lovely lunch bag (pictured above) to work with me every day. When I take a break for lunch at my desk, my little recycled tote makes me smile, thinking of Tracie's class. I've also realized that my life has been too crazy this past year and that I need to make more time for creating in my studio. With that in mind, I am moving to a 4-day workweek, giving myself every Friday as studio time. This week was my first week, and while I technically "worked from home" about half of the day, I did manage to spend a good three hours turning one of my Alyssa Burke class canvas pieces into my new art apron!

Today, I packed my art backpack for next week's family vacation, Up North (Michigan). In my pack, I included three encaustic wax books to read in preparation for Encausticamp 2011, which is next month in Salem, OR. I also included lots of supplies for working on my art journals, so I think my time by the lake in the next two weeks will be well-Inspired.

Live the dream:) Brenda

Inspired Art 2010: A Great 3 Days

2010-05-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Flying to North Carolina, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Having only attended Artiscape in the past, I knew there would be some fundamental differences. Donna Downey's Inspired Art experience was beyond my expectations! Excellent hotel and convention center, friendly hosts and crew of volunteers, Artists who taught with their hearts and souls....supplying attendees with their knowledge and QUALITY supplies and examples.....WOW!

Limited to 250 students, attendees were divided into six groups with friends being grouped together. The event began with a day of mini-workshops, followed by our "core classes", three 3-hr classes each day for the next two days.

Cha-Cha necklaces were created, using our handmade UTEE beads and an assortment of complementary beads and baubles
Life is Beautiful recycled art journals made us get outside our comfort zones
Vintage ephemera art journal covers were personalized with lots of experimental techniques
Powertex sculptures had everyone wary, but extremely pleased with the experience as well as their completed "lady"
Encaustic wax and beeswax were experimented with collage and powders thrown into the mix
Glass mosaics were created over colorful paintings and inspiring words

Friday night's dinner included a "raffle", where Donna drew 26 names and allowed all the "winners" to choose a prize from a bowl. She told everyone there was a trip for 2 back to Inspired 2011 in the bowl. My name was called third from last....and I won the seats for next year's Inspired!

The final night featured a keynote delivered by Stacy Julian. She was truly inspirational, and referred to one of my recent favorite books: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin. I could truly relate to everything she said.

My favorite moments? Meeting Pam Garrison and C.D. Muckosky and enjoying their classes, and spending time with a good friend who's a fellow artist AND veterinary practice manager. My "unexpected" favorite moment was a mini-workshop by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler. Her most recent book, Very Washington DC: A Celebration of the History and Culture of America's Capital City is a must-have if you'll be traveling to our nation's capital anytime soon. Travel journaling is something I had never thought about before taking this fun workshop.

Since I'll be returning to Inspired 2011, I'll have to lobby for a friend, who I think would be a perfect fit for this event: Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch. She would be a wonderful addition to next year's line-up of core classes! Her book, Encaustic Workshop: Artistic Techniques for Working with Wax is my recommendation for working with encaustic mediums.

Live the dream:) Brenda

BRAC Team Art Show

2010-05-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

This Friday, I will be showing my work for the first time in a few years. I have to break out of the "too busy for art" frame of mind. Moving forward, I've promised myself to always make time to create! Showing what I create is also part of the process. On Friday, surrounded by friends from work, four of us will take that plunge together and exhibit our work as part of the Spring Gallery Tour in Broad Ripple!

Dr. Elizabeth Murphy paints these wonderful custom pet portraits from photos. She does a fabulous job at capturing the purrsonalities of the pets.

I believe she works digitally, with a paint software program. The brushstrokes are amazing, but more noticeable is the "essence" of the pet leaping off the canvas.

A relative newcomer to BRAC, Alysha Calender will be showing some matted and framed pencil drawings of horses. Alysha is a veterinary technology student who is pursuing her degree as a Registered Veterinary Technician. She loves to draw in her free time.

Dr. Christine Heinz is an avid photographer in her spare time, which is about to be cut very short with the coming birth of her first child:) Christine's photographs are gorgeous studies of nature and the environment. Full of peace and tranquility, these pieces reflect her personality and style.

My contribution will be a hodge-podge of mediums that I've explored in the past few years. From woodcut prints to beeswax collage and encaustic wax paintings, I'll be showing a little bit of this and that.

If you're in Broad Ripple this Friday between 5-9pm, stop by our Wellness Center location at 5897 N. College for a taste of our teamwork!

Live the dream:) Brenda

Inspired Art: Around the Corner

2010-05-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

Eleven days and counting...that's how long I have until I head to Inspired Artist Workshop retreat in Concord, NC! An art buddy and I decided to try something "new" this year and when I stumbled upon this 3-day workshop event, we decided to give it a try. Looks like I'll be dabbling in a little more than just wax, though: mixed media, paper arts, mosaic, a little encaustic and throw in a sculpture for good measure! Having only experienced Artiscape before, it will be interesting to experience a different venue.

The challenge for this particular event: strategic packing! How does one get all the necessary art supplies and clothing packed while still allowing plenty of room to bring treasures and finds home with them on a plane? This should be interesting....

Live the dream:) Brenda

BRVA Gallery Tour Stop

2010-04-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

We are excited to be a part of the Broad Ripple Village Association's Spring Gallery Tour. It will be on Friday, May 7, 2010 between the hours of 5 and 9pm. When the BRVA first approached me in becoming a "gallery tour stop", I thought: "We're an animal clinic, not a gallery! How is this going to work?" Then I thought: "What a great opportunity for our employees who are also artists!"

We have four employees who are banding together to display our work as part of the tour. Dr. Elizabeth Murphy does digital pet portraits; Dr. Christine Heinz will be displaying photography; Alysha Calendar will display her drawings and acrylic paintings; and I will offer up a variety with beeswax collages, acrylic collage painting, encaustic wax paintings, and a few woodcut prints. We will be located at the Broad Ripple Animal Wellness Center at 5897 N. College Ave. (corner of Kessler & College) during the Gallery Tour. If all goes well, maybe we'll have a few more employees interested in the Fall Gallery Tour next September.

Live the dream:) Brenda

Encaustic Workshop

2010-04-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

I recently experienced a wonderful workshop experience with Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch. Tricia is a phenomenal artist and teacher from Seattle. I was thrilled to study with her in the art of encaustic wax painting. I had become very interested in this ancient art about 6 months ago, after reading an article in Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine. But, I didn't know where to begin after purchasing a few tins of Enkaustics wax paints. Tricia's book, Encaustic Workshop is the perfect choice for anyone who is looking to experiment with this media. She covers the basics from needed supplies and basic techniques all the way up to burning and experimental techniques.

Tricia was so much fun, and quite the little firebug when it came to experimenting with burning techniques! If you can't find a workshop in your area that is hosting Tricia, you've got to at least check out her book.

Live the dream:) Brenda