A look into the hive.

Meet Michele Maule

Tell us a bit about yourself:
Well, let’s see…where should I start?
I live in Pontiac, Michigan, just outside of Detroit, with my boyfriend and my Boston Terrier pup, Chloe. However, I am from Portland, Oregon and I plan on moving back when my boyfriend is done with grad school. I have a degree in art from Portland State University, and I became a full time artist last year.

How did you begin working in encaustic?
I have been working with encaustic for about 4 years.
I started playing around with wax in college. At first I was using it in sculpture pieces, and I really loved the smell and the color of it. Then I had an instructor who did lovely encaustic work, so the class got her to demo it for us, and I loved it instantly!

What do you find most rewarding about working with encaustic?
I love the colors that you can get with encaustic work. They are so rich and deep.
There is also this surprise factor that comes with working in encaustic. With my collage pieces, I am never really sure how the wax will react with the colors of the papers…and it is always so cool to see what happens.

Where do you find your inspiration for your work?
Honestly, most of my inspiration comes from myself and my surroundings.
Lately my inspiration has come from feelings of loneliness and missing my home in Portland. I try to find inspiration in those quiet moments when I am at home waiting for the next step…

Do you plan your pieces before you start?
Sometimes I do. Lately I have been coming up with ideas in my head, photographing them, and then planning on how I will use them on the surface. However, usually I just sit down with my panel and start drawing then painting.

Explain a bit about your process of creating with encaustic.
I use beeswax as my final layer on a painting. I feel it brings the entire painting together as a whole. So I brush a layer of wax over the painting and I use a heat gun to make the surface even. 

I use quarter inch thick pine panel wood with a 2″ pine cradle on the back.
They work really well for me. I have tried using just the panel, without the cradle, and the result was warping and bending. So it’s really important to me to have some sort of support on the back.

What is your favorite technique and why?
Well, my favorite technique would have to be collage.
Collage has been one constant in my work over the last 7 years.
When I am making a collage I feel like I am organizing my thoughts, and the outcome is a small history of what is going on in my head.

Tell us a bit about your studio and the atmosphere when you create. Do you have a ritual or something you do before you begin or while you are creating?
I work in my apartment…I hope to have a studio when I move back to Portland.
I don’t really have a ritual or anything. I have to turn on music, and once I do that I kinda get into it…sometimes it takes awhile…but it’s there. Oh! and coffee…I have to have a large mug of coffee.

Do you have a favorite artist? If so, who and what do you like about them?
Well, I have many…but one of my recent favorites is Jane Hammond.
I just saw her speak at the DIA, and she said some things that I really related to.
She loves to collect images and work from this collection of images, which I tend to do as well. She also said that when she graduated from graduate school she felt that there was this need for her work to take on a sense of similarity. That she had to hone in on one technique, or one style, and go with it making slight changes and perfecting it as she went. However, she didn’t really feel like that is what she wanted to do. That there are so many things that she wanted to try or experiment with, and that zoning in on one way of making art wasn’t really for her. I could really relate to that.

Do you have any advice for an artist that is just starting to use encaustic medium?
Be patient! It can be really frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it can be a lot of fun. Experiment a lot before you start in on one painting. Get the feel for it before you decide to make your first masterpiece. Also, remember to work in a well ventilated area!

Do you have some advice you can give us on having a successful ETSY store?
Etsy is such a great place to sell art, and to be inspired.
Some of the most important things you can do to have a successful Etsy store are good photos and promoting yourself. Promoting yourself in the fourms, or with your blog. I think that having a blog is such a great way for people to become familiar with your process as well as yourself. People really love getting to know the artist behind the work, and having a blog is a great way to do that.

Michele’s Etsy Store

If you enjoyed this interview, please leave a comment!

To learn more about Michele please visit her blog or website.

Michele’s Blog

Michele’s Website

A look into the hive…

Meet Amy Keller fromBumble Belly Designs………….

Tell us a bit about yourself.

 
I am a professional photographer by trade.  My husband and I have
been a team for close to 13 years.  However, with
the birth of our 2 children (now 6 and 2)  I have found that I am not
as free to travel to shoots and be there for the kids.  So I started
Bumble Belly Designs. 

How did you begin working in encaustics?

My husband and I were on a photo shoot and I was absolutely captivated
by some encaustic landscapes they had hanging on the wall.  I went
home and started researching painting with wax and discovered
encaustics. About 2 years later we were doing a shoot at a stylist
house and I saw she had a setup.  She shared her info and resources
and my wonderful hubby purchased a beginner set-up for me that
Christmas (2 years ago this Christmas).  It took a while, what with a
newborn and all but eventually I started to play with it.  My stylist
friend contacted me that summer to go to a workshop at Tracy Spadafora’s Studio
and that answered a lot of my early questions.

What do you find most rewarding about working in encaustics?

Encaustic has been a new lease for me.  I am drawn in by how light
plays through the wax.  I love it’s texture or how it can be made to
have a glass finish.  I love that it can be sculpted and that it is
responsive.  I tend to have an impatient streak and I like that I can
work quickly and have some tangible accomplishment at the end of a day
or two. 

Where do you find your inspiration for your work?

This is a loaded question for me right now.  This past year my
inspiration has been drawn from my children and my love of children’s
literature and illustration.  I continue to be inspired by these but
would like to start expressing myself and experimenting more with the
medium.  I have lived by the shore, in coastal New England, my whole
life and find such comfort in nature.  I love to travel and take
pictures.  My personal goal for this coming year is to bring these
more personal inspirations into my work. 

Do you plan your pieces before you start?

Almost always.  I sometime wish I  could just start to paint and let
whatever come out, but I am not as confident in the medium yet.  I
have started pieces and reached a point where I wish I had added a
layer earlier in the painting.  That’s not to say I am rigid in the
entire construction of a piece, I do find happy accidents and
discoveries. 

Explain a bit about your process of creating with encaustic.

Well, I do plan my pieces – sometimes using my computer to play with
layout ideas and sometimes by just physically laying things out on a
surface.  After pouring through my reams of ephemera, I will play with
elements as a sort of dry run and to help get the juices flowing.  I
use braced pine panels or claybord as my supports.  It depends on the
piece, but I may lay paper down first and then begin to paint over or
I may imbed pieces into the wax as I paint.  I do a  lot of transfers
as well, both laser print and ink-jet transfers.  Sometimes I’ll just
hit a block and not know how to finish a piece, so I’ll set it aside
and wait until it comes to me.

What types of supports do you use? Have you tried other supports
and/or substrates and if so, how did they work for you?

I do mainly work on braced pine panels and claybord.  I have collected
some beautiful driftwood, shells and rocks and have aspirations of
using them in my work.  I also hope to try plexiglas.  On our summer
camping trip (4 nights in a tent with the kiddos)  I brought along
some air dry clay for the kids to mess with if the weather was bad.  I
have plans to try incorporating small sculptures into some new pieces
as well. 

What is your favorite technique and why?

I’m not sure I know enough techniques to answer this question.  I have
some oil-bars on order and I can’t wait to start to play with those.
I suppose the one technique I rely on is laser transfers and somewhat
on ink-jet transfers (although these are much more tricky).  I will
also use my hot air gun for moving medium and an iron at times.  My
new toy is a batik writer that I will begin to incorporate into some
new pieces.

Earlier you mention that you enjoy sculpting with encaustic. Tell us a bit more about that.

Well, by “sculpted” I am talking about how the wax can be built up in areas and/or carved with tools.  Page 63 in Joanne Mattera’s book has a picture of a piece by Martin Kline called Green Bloom.  It illustrates how you can build up the wax and use its fast hardening quality as a sculpting technique.  One of my other “things to try” (and the list grows daily!)  is to try using silicon moulds to mould 3 dimensional wax pieces and add them to a piece.  I would love to know if anyone has tried this.

And transfers?

All of the black lines of the children illustrations are transfers (the girl with the balloon and the two children looking skyward).  The red balloon and the girls coat, hair, face, rosy cheek, are all painted with pigmented wax.These are laser  transfers.  I have found that vellum is the best transfer medium for me.  I’m not sure if there is a wax component to the paper or some kind of

Tell us a bit about your studio and the atmosphere when you create.
Do you have a ritual or something you do before you begin or while you
are creating?

I have commandeered the sun room.  It’s just off the living room so if
I need to, I can keep a watch on the kids.  I can see the backyard
from there as well.  There is a ton of light and my waxes can be right
next to a fan in the window for great ventilation.  It is full to the
brim with odds and ends that I have collected – either as inspiration
or to eventually incorporate into my work.  I wish I could be more
organized – I try but I tend to work right up until the very minute my
son gets off the bus or I need to pick my daughter up.
My ritual is to make lunches in the morning and get the kids off to
school and then it is gangbusters until they get home.  My computer is
in the basement so I may be down there while my waxes melt and then
I’ll come up to paint.  I use my dining room for any sewing projects
(my Old Macdonald Pillows) so basically my house is often in a “state
of craft”:) 

Do you have a favorite artist?  If so, who and what do you like about them?

This is a difficult question.  I’m not sure I have one favorite
artist.  I am drawn in by color and form, strong narrative and
emotion.  When I first started to investigate encaustics I came across
Fawn Potash. I love her use of encaustics and photography and would love to attend
one of her workshops some day. 

Do you have any advice for an artist that is just starting to use
encaustic medium?

Beware it is addictive!   The internet is a great resource for
finding supplies and proper handling of the medium.  I’m a stickler
about safety, especially because of the kids.  There is also a series
of videos that Kathryn Bevier has produce and put on youtube.  I love any
chance I get to watch other artists work.  My early bible was Joanne
Mattera’s “The Art of Encaustic Painting”.  It is loaded with
information and inspiration. 

Do you have some advice you can give us on having a successful Etsy Store?

First, I will say that success is different for everyone.  I have done
some reading in the forums to try to figure this out and what I have
found is that you have to promote yourself.  Now, I’m not that good at
it.   I will re-list items to keep something from my shop fresh in the
lists but I need to start a blog and website this year.  I really
don’t know much about the blogosphere but I figure slowly I will catch
on.  I am trying to educate myself on the web communities that are out
there.  I’m hoping to learn all I can from my fellow bees   Go Go
Bee Team!!

Amy’s Etsy Store Bumble Belly Design

A peak into Amy’s studio.

 Meet Pat from Onawhimsey!

How did you begin working in encaustic?

Earlier this year I came across the word encaustic.  Didn’t have a clue what it meant but felt drawn to finding out the meaning.  The whole idea of burning  fascinated me and that really got me going.

What do you find most rewarding about working with encaustic?

I love the texture of the wax, the smell and the fact it decides on which road I am to travel.  Once started the wax will lead me in many different ways until I come to a point where I have to stop.  That is the hardest part, knowing when to stop!  Sometimes you might think, I will just add this or that there and the impact of the picture is ruined.  So, there really is a fine line between continuation and stopping.

Where do you find your inspiration for your work?

Much of the inspiration for my work comes from water; from the seashore, cliffs and the mighty power of the sea.  I guess being a Pisces might have something to do with that?  I love the ever changing moods, colours and effect of water.

Do you plan your pieces before you start?

I have tried to plan a piece by doing a sketch of a subject, preparing my waxes, support but invariably the painting will not be a success.  The painting will not come out as I wanted it to.  So, now I, literally, go with the flow!

Explain a bit about your process of creating with encaustic.

Creating a painting in encaustic, for me, is like no other experience.  A welling up of creativity occurs within me to the point I have to get the waxes out.  I never know in which direction they will take me but when I am in one of those moods I have the overwhelming urge to create.  The image then creates itself as if a spirit takes over.  Sounds pretty melodramatic but that is as close a description as I can give.  The creation comes from deep within my soul and is a very spiritual experience.  Once completed there is a wonderful feeling of relief and achievement.

What type of supports do you use? Have you tried other supports and/or substrates and if so, how did they work for you?

Being very new to this medium I primarily use encaustic card as a support.  I do have a few wall tiles that I have my eye on (we have builders in at the moment) and intend to experiment.  Wood is another support I would love to try.  So many things to try but so little time!

Can you explain what an encaustic card is?

It is especially prepared for encaustic artwork.  It is high quality sealed card which can be used for wax painting or rubber stamping – it doesn’t absorb the elements!  Normally white in colour but many other colours are available and sizes as well.  The smallest I have is for ACEO size (3.5 x.2.5″) and the largest is what we call A3 or roughly 16.5 x 11.5″.

What is your favorite technique and why?

A favorite technique?  I love my little iron, my faithful friend!  However, using a blowing technique with a hairdryer is also a fascinating way to develop a picture and style.

Tuberlance is one of Pat’s recent pieces using this technique.

Tell us a bit about your studio and the atmosphere when you create. Do you have a ritual or something you do before you begin or while you are creating?

You would laugh if you saw my studio!!!  I have a room in which I store all my equipment for sewing and encaustics and anything else I am involved in.  So, it is pretty cluttered although I promise myself that one day, I will sort it out and thus make more room. One day!!!!  The most important thing is that it is MY room which I don’t have to tidy at the end of the day.  I have my laptop there to keep in touch with the world and depending on what I am doing that day; I clear a space to work.

Do you have a favorite artist? If so, who and what draws you to their work?

One of my favorite encaustic artists is called Mysticmoon.  She is Silvana from Holland and has been painting in encaustics since 2004.  A very talented lady whose work can be seen at this link . She, too, describes how she finds the encaustic medium to be so fascinating and calming.  Depending on her mood her creativity often takes her to surprising places.

Do you have any advice for an artist that is just starting to use encaustic medium?

Having just found this wonderful medium I guess I have to say, go with the flow!  Don’t try to copy another style because it won’t work.  Develop your own style and always push yourself that bit more to achieve better works.

Do you have some advice you can give us on having a successful ETSY store?

Promote, promote, promote!!  The worst part of selling, for me, is marketing.  It takes up so much time and effort which I would rather spend with my waxes!  However, if I only paint and never tell the world about it then how can I possibly expect to sell anything?  Join groups like the BEE Team where you can exchange ideas and encouragement.  In UK, for instance, there are not too many encaustic artists.  Not like the US or Europe.

Join in forum discussions, write a blog.  I started a blog specifically to promote encaustic art and my work.  Try a website!  I did this a month or so ago.  I have achieved some traffic due to referrals and directly from the internet.

Advertise!  Check out Project Wonderful to purchase very reasonable advertising slots which link directly to your Etsy shop.  For instance, I often advertise on the Etsy Challenge blog .   You can also arrange for them to suggest or advise you of other slots that become available on other sites.  You choose which will get the most traffic.

Most of all, believe in you!  That belief will shine through into your work and your very own being. Trust your own sense of direction and follow it.  By all means take advice but only you can decide whether you will need to accept it.

Pat’s Etsy Store

Pat’s Art Blog

Meet Shannon Newby!!

Shannon started the BEE team just over a month ago, and has been actively trying to connect with other encaustic artists worldwide.  Her love for encaustics is contagious and she’s full of ideas.  :)

Tell us a bit about yourself:

How did you begin working in encaustic?            

I first heard about encaustics 2 years ago while I was working at a university.  There was an encaustics class offered, so I audited it and fell in love immediately.  I think up until then, I had struggled with making the paint do what I wanted it to do and to successfully incorporate collage materials.  Working with wax has proven to be a good challenge for me and I can’t get enough of it!

What do you find most rewarding about working with encaustic?     

I LOVE how fast the wax dries.  I used to enjoy doing oil painting only because of the rich, bold colors were more appealing to me than working with acrylics.  But I quickly gave up because I found I got restless waiting for the oil paint to dry.  So for me, one of the most rewarding things about working with encaustics is that I get instant results.  I enjoy working fast-paced and having to make quick decisions.

Where do you find your inspiration for your work?

As a Christian, I draw my inspiration from all of God’s creation.  Many times I will draw inspiration from the Bible itself or from snippets of conversations with friends and family.

Tell us about your process. Do you plan your pieces before you start?

Hmmm…this is a good question.  I think my process varies from piece to piece.  There are some weeks were I paint whatever comes to me when I sit down to begin painting.  Other times, I have labored, thought and prayed through something so much that it just sort of HAS to come out in my artwork.  My husband is also an artist, so many times I’ll talk through a concept before I begin a piece of series of works.  

Regarding your process….. On the piece pictured, tell us how you put the color on. Is that oil paint or do you paint on encaustic with the mediums you make?

I make all my own colors by taking encaustic medium, and pigmented it with oil paint.  For this piece, I painted with my colors, and as a final touch, added bold lines with a big black permanent marker.  Sometimes I like to “cheat” by adding ink lines or black marker onto the final layer of my pieces.  

What type of supports do you use? Have you tried other supports and/or substrates and if so, how did they work for you?

 Mostly, I use masonite or hardwood panels.  I have tried working with canvas some, and more recently have begun experimenting with encaustics on rice paper, mounted on plexiglass.  

 What is your favorite technique and why?

 I really love incising and embedding.  I love finding little treasures around the house or looking through some books from an antique store to find quirky things to add to my paintings.  I also really love working with a blowtorch because it gives the layers a smooth, silky surface.

 Regarding your favorite technique…..can you give a brief explanation of what incising or embedding involves?

 Incising means actually digging and scraping into the wax.  I often take a sharp utensil and carve out lines and shapes.  Then with more paint, or with an oil stick, I will rub pigment into the incised lines to “fill” the little crevices I created.  With embedding, I take images, text or various buttons or little trinkets and lay them on my piece and add a layer of beeswax around it.  Adding clear medium on top will permanently set anything into the piece.

 Tell us a bit about your studio and the atmosphere when you create. Do you have a ritual or something you do before you begin or while you are creating?

 I almost always paint outside.  I have been lucky to have a great patio / porch space to work with.  As for rituals, I like to pray before, during and after my work.

Do you have a favorite artist? If so, who and what do you like about them?

Oh man!  This is a tough question.  I am always finding more encaustic artists that I love.  A few of my all-time favorites… Judith Kindler because she’s got such a great style that I really resonate with, and Scott Reilly because I love how he allows the wax to be illuminated from behind in his light paintings.

Do you have any advice for an artist that is just starting to use encaustic medium? 

Experiment, experiment, experiment!  No one can tell you how to truly work with this medium.  You’ll discover other techniques and additions as you go, and that’s the beauty of working with the wax.  It’s so diverse and it’s hard to get bored with it!

 Can you tell us a bit more about the tutorial for sale in your shop?

 The tutorial is an 18-page PDF document that lets people in on the process and a few techniques of encaustic painting.  I also share a list of where to get resources (like beeswax, panels, oil sticks, etc).  It’s a quick but thorough read for anyone interested in getting started.  But by far the best part is the last section where I interview 6 other encaustic artists.  Consequently, they are part of the BEE team and have been a great inspiration to me: Kbean, Charmfoundry, Tangledskystudio, Mimidoodles, Michelemaule, Lvhdesigns.  

How did you dream up the fantastic BEE team?

I’ve had some great discussions through convos on etsy with several of the BEE members and been so inspired by everyone on the site in general.  I thought creating a team would allow a better (and more organized) way for us to network and learn from each other.  Long live the BEE team!  :)

Shannon’s Etsy Store

Shannon’s Art Blog