Life
6"x6" mixed media encaustic on wood panel framed with 2.5" deep natural maple floater frame
 
There was something about all the major shifts happening in the world in recent times that pushed me to dig deeper into myself to get in contact with the truest essence of what inspires me to create.  It felt important to keep showing up despite the swirling energies of fear and doubt and to distill the sources of peace, truth, and beauty that shape my days. 
 
I wanted to get back to my early days of creating with encaustic when I made my own paints using powdered pigments, beeswax, and damar resin so I gathered up my supplies and made a batch of paints especially for this series.
 
This painting started with a small pencil sketch of a hawk with wings outstretched,  a very frequent sight in my backyard which sits adjacent to hundreds of acres of woods.  There is also a drawing of a pattern of bird tracks I observed outside my studio. Next I started layering drips of thick pigmented wax, handmade papers, vintage crocheted doilies, snippets from player piano music, and copper leaf.  Patterns and lines are carved into the wax creating a semi-abstract harmonious compostion with earthy tones.
 
Comes ready to hang for many years of enjoyment!