It started a year ago in an industrial warehouse parking lot in Santa Monica. The date was prearranged, a blind date of sorts. Arriving at the scene early, I was apprehensive. Expectations were high, but fear of the unknown was lurking beneath the surface. After all, I was about to engage in behavior that could, and would change my life.
Minutes later, I spotted the vehicle. It was as described, a Gold Toyota Sequoia SUV. I waved, and the acknowledgment was reciprocated. The vehicle parked. Seconds before the doors opened I wondered...do I really want to go down this path?
Too late now, a smiling person climbed out. Followed by another shiny happy bubbly person and a cooing little baby girl adorned in pink. Hello Lissa Rankin, Matt Klein and baby Sienna, my new connection to the world of encaustic painting.
Encaustic Paints
Months earlier, Lissa had sent me a compelling portfolio of work to be reviewed for possible inclusion in our Gallery. I was impressed by her professional presentation and intrigued by the idea of paintings made out of wax. Now there's a novel idea. I guess those ancient Greeks and Egyptians were pretty darn clever with their painted warships and portraits 2000 years ago.
Back in the present, this visit was my first opportunity to see, touch, and smell the most amazing painting medium ever. As Matt pulled painting after painting out of the SUV, I could hardly contain my excitement. This was BIG. I bounced around like a hot popcorn kernel on the verge of the pop, tossing out questions. How many paintings can we have for the gallery? How do you do this? Do you teach? I want to learn.
I want I want I want and I want it all now. Lissa, experienced with this type of response, laughed. And, over the next couple of months, she delivered. All. The paintings were amazing and sold immediately. Lissa came to Carmel and offered impromptu lessons. I was hooked, the affair with encaustic painting was in full swing, and my old love, Acrylic, was sent to the back burner.
And, speaking of burners, my studio was suddenly full of them. Along with blow torches, heat guns, irons, heat lamps and all things HOT. Friends and fellow artists Cynthia Johnson Bianchetta and Todd Elliott joined me on the quest for knowledge. Three blind mice on a journey. Clueless, we painted together weekly, blissfully ignorant. One day, Todd had a breakthrough. He squealed and held up a well worked labor of love. "I WOULD BUY THIS!" he shouted with glee. Knowing Todd's taste for exceptional works of art, we all knew it was a historic hot moment.
My New Favorite Blow Torch
Simultaneously, things were heating up at the Gallery. Lissa referred me to Rodney Thompson and Cari Hernandez, two other talented encaustic painters pioneering new ideas in the medium. Encaustic paintings became our hottest items ever, leaping off the gallery walls into the extended arms of thrilled collectors.
Artists were also hot on the trail. Sensing that something new and exciting was looming large on the Carmel art scene horizon, they flocked into the gallery to see what all the fuss was about. Inquiries arose - how do we learn? Who is offering workshops?
Within months , it was clear that encaustic painting instruction needed be part of our ongoing workshop program. One night, I cornered my husband, who is also my business partner. I put him on the hot seat with a strong recommendation (might have been a polite demand) that we immediately invest in the equipment and supplies necessary to host encaustic workshops. He started sweating. Was he having a hot flash? Or should I call it a power surge? Reply: "That sounds very expensive". Me: "It is." Him: Silence. Me: "Alrighty then, so do you want to order the blow torches and propane, or handle the acquisition of 200 lbs of beeswax? Oh, and sweetie... don't forget the fire extinguishers."
And we were off. First workshop, a collaborative effort between LTFA, Lissa Rankin, Cari Hernandez and Rodney Thompson. Sold out. Second workshop, sold out. And so on. Last fall Artist / Instructor Daniella Woolf joined our team, and new LTFA instructors Sandi Miot and Cynthia Johnson Bianchetta will be hosting workshops this fall and spring of 2008. Right now, our current schedule features an entire selection of beginning and advanced encaustic workshops.
Rodney Thompson Demo
The gallery is also still an encaustic hot spot. Encaustic has become a part of every exhibit. Recently we were honored to host a juried exhibition, "OFF THE GRID: New Directions in Wax", featuring work from the International Encaustic Artists organization. Many new artist relationships came from that show and future exhibits will feature the work of IEA members Cari Hernandez, Rodney Thompson, Lissa Rankin, Cynthia Johnson Bianchetta, Daniella Woolf, Jeff Juhlin, Michel Tsouris, Jhina Alvarado, Eileen Goldenberg, Amber George and more. I also had a virtual meeting with fellow encaustic artist /gallery owner Miles Conrad who owns the Conrad Wilde Gallery. Thank you Miles for sharing helpful gallery owner info as well as sending us your own great paintings for inclusion in the IEA show.
Other HOT encaustic happenings: the First National Encaustic Conference just took place just outside of Boston at Montserrat College. Judging from all the great blog posts about the conference, Daniella Woolf and Joanne Mattera to name a few, it must have been an exceptional weekend. Count me in for this hot event in 2008.
Back to my dilemma Hot or Not? I'm definitely still passionate about HOT. But, I have resumed my tried and true love with Acrylic and now they are both a part of my life. They share my studio, my time, and my resources. And it's BIG LOVE. I have become, you might say, an Art Polygamist.
Dear Lauryn, I loved reading about your love affair with encaustic. Lissa and I were table partners at the San Francisco Center for the Book when we took our first encaustic class through RF Paints.
And I remember your fabulous acrylics when I met you at Art Walk in San Diego many years ago. Lissa's work is phenomenal. I also have been teaching encaustic workshops in my home studio in San Diego for several years and I am always amazed by the excitement that is generated by this medium. I am familear with Conrad Wilde Gallery and I belong to IEA. I will be attending an encaustic workshop in encaustics and bookarts(another love of mine) at the end of this month. And...Encaustic in Cortona Italy in Sept. 2008! I invite you to look at my website. I would be honored to have some of my work in your gallery.
All the very best, Josie
Posted by: Josie Rodriguez | November 19, 2007 at 10:21 AM