Encaustic

Artist Statement : Encaustic

I am an artist working primarily with photography and encaustic beeswax. Through my camera, I collect the beautiful colors and textures of daily life. When I take photographs, even highly abstracted ones, they hold powerful memories of when, where, and why.

I am especially interested in the elasticity of light as it dances around shadow and reflection. Capturing light is sometimes ethereal and sometimes edgy. It is intriguing how the camera lens “sees” differently than the eye.

My method of developing photography involves transferring the ink from my prints onto cradled panels and saturating with encaustic. This creates soft imagery with a luminous glow and aromatic scent of beeswax.

The transfer process makes me feel connected to my artwork. My hands are on every print, smoothing and burnishing and revealing the final imagery. The rhythm becomes a moving meditation. Each transfer is unique, an absolute one of a kind. The transfer process literally transforms the original image into something new.

Layers of encaustic illuminate the imagery and lend visual depth and texture to the photographs. It is the perfect finishing touch. Beeswax has a very sensuous surface, yet it is also highly archival and durable.

Selected work is featured. To see a portfolio of available collections and view gallery information, please visit my Collections page. To purchase artwork that is available through my studio, please visit my Shop page.

To view my artist video, read my biographical article, or see upcoming classes, please visit my Artist page.

Recent Exhibitions

2018 Penland Gallery 33rd Annual Benefit Auction: Penland School of Craft, Penland NC

2018 Light is Elastic: Artist Talk with Erin Keane at The Gallery at Flat Rock, Flat Rock NC

2018 Perfect Imperfection, Embracing Wabi Sabi: Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville NC

2018 Arrowmont School Art Instructor Exhibition: Encaustic Books Class and Artist Talk with Erin Keane: Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg TN

2018 Sometimes, Small Group Invitational Exhibit: Artist Talk and Demo with Erin Keane at A Closer Look: Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord NC

2018 March Art Madness, The Gallery Floorboards: The Gallery at Flat Rock, Flat Rock NC

2018 Paper View, Pop Up Shop: Atrium Gallery at The Bascom Center for Visual Arts, Highlands NC

2018 Lakescape, placed into Permanent Collection: Pardee Cancer Center Prayer Room: Hendersonville NC

2018 Member Exhibition, juried by Candace Reilly, assistant director and curator at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery: Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville NC