Working on paper

Last week I had two half days painting with encaustic on paper.  It was exploration time at its best as I created different surface effects that I will later combine to create new pieces or else file as examples for future reference. It was exhilarating to have a block of time to work  because my life is very hectic right now and I rarely see my studio.  Here are some of my explorations which are completed works :

 The base is printmaking paper that has been perforated with a sewing machine, coated in encaustic medium on both sides and then coloured with soft pastel that is shaved off the stick and rubbed into the wax surface and buffed.  Then a dark paper and a grid paper were added and glazed with pearl pigment stick. 

The same techniques were used on this one but there was more pooling of the powdered pastel when I tried to attach the encaustic dipped grid paper on top of the first level of work.

The same technique was used on this piece but the bottom half received a coating of black ink.  I love the subtle resist created by the wax as the two media merged.

I have lots more to share and no time to write.   Later today we are going to  open  our summer house for the season- it's not very summery where I am though. If Newfoundlanders ran their lives by the weather not much would happen!  I may get enough time to paint or else I will photograph and walk;   either way art wins in the end. I look forward to a summer of relaxation and painting but first I get to go to the International Encaustic Conference in early June.