The Artist
I am an encaustic artist and photographer living in my native city of Asheville, NC. Even as a child I loved art. I was taught to color between the lines and I did a decent job of it, though I wasn’t very good at drawing those lines. I eventually discovered that photography allowed me to be creative and that light was my palette and “lines” weren’t necessary. Now, I paint in encaustic as well and often integrate my own photography into the medium. “I have found my voice—a voice significant not in what I paint or photograph but how my paintings and photographs make you feel when viewing them.” I am represented by 310 ART in Asheville’s River Arts District.
Encaustic painting (heated wax and damar resin) is an ancient art that has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. The finished piece is pleasant and fascinating to look at, but the creative process is the joy for me because it engages the senses in so many ways. It is the hiss of the propane torch that begins to sound like ocean waves, the warm honey scent of the melted beeswax that fills my studio, the translucent luminosity of the many layers of wax, and the velvety-smooth texture of the surface that can be polished with the palm of my hand.
I am a graduate of Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC, and have taken photography and art courses at the University of North Carolina—Asheville and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. I have taken numerous workshops in encaustic and attended the yearly conference for International Encaustic Artists, of which I am a member. I have exhibited with Carolina Nature Photography Association and f/32 of Asheville. My writing has been published in O Magazine, Camera in the Wild, and The Laurel of Asheville has featured my photography.
An educator for twenty-eight years with National Board Certification, I enjoyed teaching digital imaging, graphic design and website development. I am pleased that I can continue to teach as Director of Encaustic Education at 310 ART in the River Arts District.
About Encaustic
Encaustic paintings are extremely durable due to the fact that beeswax is impervious to moisture. Because of this, it will not deteriorate, yellow, or darken. However, the surface can be scratched, gouged or chipped if handled improperly. Do not expose the paintings to extreme heat (trunk of a car, over a fireplace) or extreme cold. As with most art, it is best not to hang in direct sunlight. Encaustic paintings can be buffed to a high gloss using a soft, lint-free cloth or the palm of your hand. This sheen, which is called “bloom,” may dull over time and can be brought back by repeating the process.