Encaustic: Adapting Modern Abstract Landscapes To
An Ancient Painting Medium
Ice
Water, Frozen
Trees
Carolyn S. Goodridge
Encaustic & Oil Pastel on Birch Plywood, 6" h x 12"w,
2003
(SOLD)
Private Collection of Kim R. Howard, Esq.
Encaustic comes from a Greek word which means "burn in".
This ancient medium
of melted beeswax mixed with pigment
was once used in Greco-Roman Egypt to paint mummy masks
from 100 B.C. to A.D. 200
Fayum Portrait
The range that comes with pigmented wax is tremendous.
The artist must fuse each new layer of applied wax by
heating or burning in the new layer to the layer just beneath.
Modern day painters create exquisite textures and translucencies.
A sculptural effect can range from
"heavy" or built up impasto surfaces to the imagery of a very joyful and
seductive dance of the seven veils.
It takes as many as 10 Million flowers
for bees to make
one pound of wax.
What an honor to use this medium.