Creating texture in encaustic

One of my favourite attributes of encaustic is the ease with which you can create  surface textures.  I've been experimenting  using fabric and paper to create various effects.  Sometimes the exploration results in a completed work that I am proud of, and other times I end up with a sample board I use to illustrated points in encaustic workshops.

Starting with one piece of  patterned paper....

I began this piece with something totally different in mind as is often the way in art.  My interest in the patterns used in quilting and other hand crafts pervades my work in various ways.  This purchased paper in repetitive strips of patterns called to me.  I glued it on the panel with Yes Paste and added two coats of encaustic medium. It didn't inspire me in any way.  New road needed...  I began to cover up the patterns until only the white and black grid remained.

 

 That sparked me to find the scrap of tobacco netting a friend gave me and I was off to the races.

 

 Black and white #1, 2012, mixed media encaustic on cradled panel , 8 x 10 in.

 The grayish white area at the bottom and the black area at  top of the painting  was created with the netting and varying amounts of encaustic.  I let the white /black grid show through and then added the white squares using a stencil. 

Take one piece of white lace and ....

 
 attach it to the board using  black  encaustic.  Add several  more layers of  black  and then change to  red.  Fuse each layer.  When the pattern is completely covered with encaustic stop  and let cool.
Using a large blade scrape back to reveal the original pattern of the lace. A great sample board to show how to build up designs with fabric.you need two colours to show up the pattern.

Start with a very delicate paper..

Add layers of green encaustic and then blue and scrape away  to reveal the circular shapes with a blade.  The  raised grid is added using a stencil.

Ocean # 1 , 2012, encaustic and paper on cradled panel, 8 x 8 in.

In praise of red

Are you attracted to red in art work? I find it impossible to ignore  red in any kind of design.  It is even more attractive to me when used in abstract or non - representational work.  When a work has little or no recognizable content, we automatically  notice the element that has the most contrast. Red is bold and grabs attention.

All of the works below have a neutral palette (mostly grays and black) with a splash of red that creates an invigorating composition. You may already be familiar with some of these artists, but I hope you find at least one that is new to you.

 Mary Ann Wakeley | mawakeley - Variation on a Theme. On birch plywood, 30x30”

Fiona Watson,   Flight Paths. etching , 50 x 50 cm on 310 g Hahnemuhle paper

Judy Pfaff, ''Year of the Dog #6,'' 2009, woodblock, collage, painting, 39 7/8 x 87 1/8''.

 Günter Ludwig, “Traces”, mixed media

 Yves Cheval , Sans Titre.  Huile sur Bois 100x100 cm, Source

Yves Cheval, Sans Titre, Source

 

Source

miniprint 005  by Bea Mahan, Source

Odilon Redon

Revealed – 60″ x 36″ by Nancy Eckels, Source

This week I am taken with the work of Yves Cheval. There are lots of secrets revealed in his work when you have a closer look. I'm always pulled in to work with subtle layers.