Of Life

Of Life 8x10 Encaustic on Wood Cradle

I am showing this painting both Portrait and Landscape.  I am having a hard time deciding which way it goes.  It actually works all four ways so you can change it up as you wish.

I started this one as a wood burn using carpenter's wood glue which I torched.  That usually results in a lovely mottled caramel color. I think I put the glue on too thickly which resulted in some lovely black streaks of burned wood.  This was an extra design feature I wasn't expecting and so the adventure began. From there I added some of my painted collage paper and lots of hot wax.

I am enjoying this journey.  It allows me to work very quickly in between doing other things.  The wax cools within a few minutes and so I can leave it, go do something else, come back, look at it with fresh eyes and tackle it again.  

This particular painting has many many layers with lots of texture that you can't see on the computer screen.

Blessings for an inspiring day.

Bente

What do I do when I run out of paint for my encaustics

 What do I do when I run out of paint for encaustics?

The wax paints are beautiful, rich in color and originate in the US.  Since I live in a small Canadian town with no Art Store it is a problem in that it adds at least 30% to the price and the quantities are very small.   I am wanting to do some larger Encaustics so I thought I'd tackle a few other methods.

Here you can see some of my colored tea bags.  The paint is watercolor since acrylic doesn't mix with wax. Once I got started I found myself rummaging through my paper supply looking for ways to get more variety, texture, lines, shades. 

Here you can see that I used one paper to print pattern and line onto another.  I was also running out of my watercolor paint and you can see I was pretty determined to take advantage of what I already have on hand. The one disappointment is that with watercolor the color you put on the paper is very pale when dry in comparison to the color that you put on.  This is the reason that I quit painting with this medium.  

Another thing I have done is tried to find more pattern and ways to get marks.  The circular object is a rusty bit I found on the beach.  The pattern on the bottom left is from a stamp I bought that I believe originates from India.  There's a lot more to do with this.

It's lunchtime now so maybe I had better get dressed!  LOL!

Happy Mothers Day

I hope your day is inspiring.

Bente

Of The Wild, Encaustic on Cradle Board

Of The Wild  8X10 Encaustic on Wooden Cradle Board

Again this one started in a nice subdued manner.  I painted on watercolor paper and created some lovely patterns, etc.  Then the other personality took over.  I added collage paper, pebbles from the beach and then lots of paint.  From there the torch took over creating the motion.

I am liking this and think I should try this on a larger scale.  Need more encaustic paint to do that!

Blessings for an inspiring day.

Bente

Believe it or Not

Believe it or Not  8X10 encaustic and collage on cradle board

Believe it or Not started out as a quiet subdued gentle transition of color just like I see out my window. with the mist over the water and the clouds obscuring the island. it was working out fine but- BORING!

So then comes the large uneven splashes of color, the collage paper and texture and my butane torch takes care of the rest.  I see storms and waves crashing against the rocks like they must have done with the wild storm we had last night. This is more like life with the unexpected turmoil that hits us on occasion.

Blessings for an interesting day.

Bente

Quiet

Quiet  12x12 Encaustic on Cradle Board

I revisited this painting and added the small pebbles at the bottom.  If you look at the pebbles in the top middle area of the pebbles you will see a nice orangy red pebble.  I found it on the beach and knew exactly where it should go.  Then the search was on for more.  The ice blue wax is what holds them in place.

Blessings for a great day.

Fresh Light

Fresh Light  8x10 Encaustic on wood panel  by Bente Hansen

This painting has torn paper, sand and hot wax fused on a small wood panel.  The colors are limited without my always present quin gold.  At my last studio tour, one of my visitors pointed out that I had a color that was in almost all of my paintings.  I looked around and realized that he was right.

Here is one without that color.  I find it refreshing and an interesting exercise to try and avoid my favorite.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Fresh start

Fresh start 8x10 Encaustic by Bente Hansen

This one was an encaustic painting that I had worked on a lot.  I wasn't happy with where it was going so I put a lot of new hot colored wax on the board in very uneven areas.  I painted some on, dripped some on, threw on another color.  Just made a real mess.  When my tantrum was over I got the torch out and watched to see which way the colors flowed and VIOLA!  I like it now.

It reminds me of the foaming water between the rocks when we visit Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach, Encaustic, 12x12  By Bente Hansen

This is the first one I tried placing the sand on.  The painting is one I revisited with pan pastels.  That didn't quite do it so I added the sand.  More color, more white and finally a lot of scratching.  The mood is what we see here on the Sunshine Coast a lot of the time in the winter.

The painting is done on a wood panel. Painted on the sides so it can sit on a table or hang on the wall without a frame.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Through the Mist

Through the Mist 8X10 Encaustic with Paper and Sand   Bente Hansen

This painting started with watercolor straight on the wood panel.  Layers of hot wax, painted paper and bits of sand off the beach.  This was fun to do.  I am enjoying the intuitive nature of doing some hot wax again.  So much possibility.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Genesis

Genesis, 30X24 Encaustic on Crater Board, Bente Hansen

This is actually the first of the three Encaustic Paintings I just posted.  Of course I started on a big one.  This is contrary to advice I have received over many years.  Who follows that?

I took a knife and cut little bits of colored wax and dropped the colors in.  There is also Pan pastel and graphite in there somewhere.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Taking Action

Taking Action, Encaustic 8X10 on Crater Board, Bente Hansen

I started this one with marked lines and a definite plan.  I should have titled it Laugh Out Loud because there are no straight lines.  These wax paintings can be buffed with a soft cloth and then they really shine.

Blessings

Bente