Transformation

Transformation 10x8 Encaustic Mixed Media SOLD

Hot wax, paper, plaster , oil sticks and pastels.

These are some of the things I used in this painting.  The textured area was created with cold dry brush painting.  Between each layer I lightly fused.  Fused so that it glistens but doesn't melt.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

New Day, Encaustic Painting by Canadian Artist Bente Hansen

New Day 8x10 Encaustic on wood cradle board $80

I posted a different version of this in May.  That's the beauty of Encaustic.  The melted wax turns solid very quickly and you can rework it within minutes or years.  It doesn't matter.

With the stormy days we are having I have revisited some of the abstract that I have that to me are of a wave action nature and made the waves more intentional.  As they are in nature.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

The Dance, Encaustic by Canadian Artist Bente Hansen

The Dance 8x10 Encaustic on Wood Cradle Board SOLD

I lived with this painting for quite a while.  Couldn't quite figure out what was missing.  As soon as I took the white India Ink and danced over it I knew what was missing.  The spark and energy in the air.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Danish History by Canadian artist Bente Hansen

Danish History, 8x10 Encaustic Mixed Media on Wood cradle board $80

This painting started as a monotype print on a Galli Press.  I used oil paint left from oil painting I had recently completed.  Using the Galli Press I made a number of mono types.  When the oil paint dried I glued the paper to the cradle board.  I built on it from there.  First layers of clear encaustic and then string, paper pan pastels and many layers of paint.  The brighter window areas are brushed with a gold powder and rubbed in.  The heat of rubbing with my finder embosses the powder into the wax.  It can then be buffed up to a high sheen.  This image has not yet been buffed.

Blessings for a creative week.

Bente

Fresh Start, Encaustic by Canadian artist Bente Hansen

Fresh Start 8x10 Encaustic on Cradle Board  $80

I reworked this and a few other encaustic paintings this weekend.

I lightly touched a few areas with a bright white to give more of the impression that I wanted .  I am very happy with it now.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

Rainy Day, Encaustic by Bente Hansen

Rainy Day 12x12 Encaustic on Cradle Board  SOLD

I started this piece with a stencil that was created by cardboard push outs for a game.  Rather than throwing out the cardboard I thought it could make an interesting stencil.  There is a shellac burn, india ink, pan pastels and many layers of wax.

I love the fact that I can go back to existing paintings that haven't sold and try something new on them to make just the right change.

Blessings for a great day.

Bente

The Writer, Encaustic on wooden cradle

The writer 10x8 Encaustic, mixed media on wooden cradle board  $125

This painting started with the image below which was created with a Gell press using the oil paint that I had remaining from a large oil painting I had done.  I used 24lb bright Hammermill copy paper which was gratefully available at our local office supply store.

I glued the paper to the cradle board.  When the glue was dry I drilled and punched holes into the birch so that I could tie the feather to the board.  The wax would likely hold  the feather but wax is not glue and I wanted a guarantee that the feather wouldn't fall off down the road.

I then tried pouring the encaustic wax onto the board.  This ended up being a make work project.  It was really too thick so I spent the next few days trying to get the right amount of wax off to be able to see the image so that I could work on it.

My last step after using oil paint to infuse my lines was to rub pan pastels colors in areas where I felt the oil colors weren't strong enough to my liking.

Buff it up with a soft cloth and here you are.

Blessings for a creative weekend

Bente

30x40 Contemporary Oil

30x40 Contemporary Oil Painting by Bente Hansen SOLD

This painting is the result of someone sending me three separate photos of where they live.  The days in the photos were grey, cloudy and full of cloud movement.  So my brushes randomly put lots of color on the canvas and from there it was a puzzle as to how to put it together.

I can get quite lost in these paintings which is a great thing if other things in life are a challenge. I believe it is meant to help sort out the painting and the challenges at the same time.  A way of getting the order straight.  I wanted the colors there and at the same time it needed to make sense.

Today we have waves crashing and the wind sending branches and twigs onto the deck.  Seems quite fitting that it is the day I post this.

Blessings for a wonderful day.

Bente

Outcropping

Outcropping 10X14x1 Oil and CWM on Cedar Plank  $150

I painted this on a dried 1" cedar plank.  In an attempt to find other substrates I visited a lumber yard specializing in dried cedar.  I bought a few planks and then prepared them with Gesso as I would with a birch cradle board.  I drilled holes in the back for the D Link so the painting can be hung or placed on an iron or wood pedestal.

The painting is oil with the final sky area being mixed with cold wax medium which gives it great depth. In a few weeks time the CWM area can be buffed for a shine.  The other area can be varnished in about 6 months time if you wish to have a shine from the painting. I have also inscribed into the oil at the early stage which you can see in the rock area.  Painted on the sides and signed in the bottom right hand corner.

Blessings for a creative and happy day.

Bente