About Me
Celebrating alternative processes...
Encaustic Cyanotype
About
My Art
Check out the slide show of my process.
I am an encaustic artist, in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by the native plants and beaches, I create one of a kind pieces of art in the beautiful Florida sun. You can often find me outside in the sunshine producing cyanotype prints that I will later use in encaustic paintings.
Encaustic painting is an ancient art form. It combines bees wax, damar resin and pigments that, once heated, become a molten paint which continually moves and changes, giving way to beautiful translucent images and happy accidents.
Recently I have been experimenting with cyanotypes. This alternative photography process uses the light of the sun to develop an image. I choose native plants from around the area to create an image, which is then combined with encaustic paints to further enhance its beauty.
Combining the two mediums...
that is a Modern take on Botanicals!
Ever since I can remember, this Florida girl, has been making art from things I found in nature.
As a young girl I grew up, on the beach, in South Florida, . I spent countless hours gluing shells onto paper to make pictures.
I got my degree in elementary education at Stetson University. After graduation, I moved back to the beach, getting a teaching position in New Smyrna. I loved to incorporate art into my lessons, but teaching was not for me. When my husband and I moved to Orlando for his job, I decided to go back to school for interior design. I did office interiors until the late 90s, when my daughter was born. I loved the years at home with my kids and we did plenty of art together! When they started school I started a faux finishing business. As faux went out of style, I transitioned back into office interiors for a bit, but left to support my kids settling into college.
Now an empty nester, I am free to celebrate art for myself again and I am right back to making art from things I find in nature.
I am a member of Florida Wax, a Chapter of International Encaustics Artists. As a group, we have exhibited at Casselberry Art House, Sanford Welcome Center, Winter Park University Club, and Mills Gallery. I have also exhibited my work at Lake Mary Museum, FAVO, Quantum Leap Winery and Orlando Museum of Art's first Thursdays show of local artists.
I have future exhibits in the works; see my shows page for details.
I make my own light sensitive paper. I combine chemicals to coat the papers. The papers are then allowed to dry before exposing them to light.
Once the paper is dry, I place plant material on top and lay it in the sun to produce the print. Before exposing it to the light, I make sure the plant is positioned just so, and place it under glass.
The pictures you just saw were the making of this piece: Just Breathe. It was a long journey of many days work. I think it was worth it.
I make my own light sensitive paper. I combine chemicals to coat the papers. The papers are then allowed to dry before exposing them to light.