WHAT IS ENCAUSTIC ART?

With artwork by Kiki Curry Winters

WHAT IS ENCAUSTIC ART?ENCAUSTIC means “to burn in.” This technique has been dated to as early as the fifth centuryB.C. Although wax may appear to be a fragile material, some encaustic paintings from A.D100-125 survive today in the form of head and shoulder wax portraits set into mummycasings in Greco-Roman Egypt.

Encaustic painting was practiced by Greek artists, applying coatings of wax and resin toweatherproof their ships as a preservative

Pigmenting the wax gave a colorful coating to decorate warships. Mention is even made byHomer of the painted ships of the Greek warriors who fought at Troy.

WHAT IS ENCAUSTIC ART?To prepare the encaustic medium, I melt beeswax and add damar, a hardening andstabilizing agent, then melt the wax mixture and add pigment in tins sitting on griddles.

I paint swiftly, often only a few strokes at a time, for the wax cools very quickly. After I'veapplied a layer or two, I use a propane torch to reheat the wax, smoothing the surface a bitand bonding the new layer to the one below.

I continue to build up layers of wax with pigment added, heating it after each layer with thepropane torch. This layering lends an ethereal quality that is part of the appeal of anencaustic painting. In some paintings I add other materials—paper, linen, twigs, yarn—tocreate a collage effect. Some paintings have 10 to 20 or more layers of wax.

HISTORY OF ENCAUSTIC ARTAncient Greece Artists have practiced the technique of encaustic painting for over twothousand years. It is the oldest painting technique still in use today

One of the earliest applications of encaustic paints dates back to ancient Greece, whereartists highlighted the features of marble statues with wax paints.

This treatment adorned many statues that served to greet visitors at the gates of theAcropolis. Encaustic painting was so popular that the artists of that day referred to their waxpaints as "waxes" just as modern artists speak of their "oils" and "watercolors".

This incredibly durable medium was used to adorn not only sculptures, but murals, boats,and architecture. The Greeks alsoused wax paints in the earliest form of easel painting.

ART OF SELF

ART OF SELF

First Place Winner of of the October ART CONTESTon Pieronymus Art Network

ART OF SELF

ART OF SELF

Kiki Curry - 2nd Place - Art of Self - TVAA EXHIBITION - Plaza of Americas, Dallas, TX

CELESTIALS

“ There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain ofimproving, and that’s your own self.” Aldous Huxley

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

CELESTIALS

Kiki's Encaustic Herd

Kiki's Encaustic Herd

Kiki's Encaustic Herd

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S BIG SKY LITTLE SKY

KIKI'S MUSIC MEN AND WOMEN

KIKI'S MUSIC MEN AND WOMEN

KIKI'S MUSIC MEN AND WOMEN

KIKI'S MUSIC MEN AND WOMEN

KIKI'S MUSIC MEN AND WOMEN

ELEMENTS OF WATER

CHARYBDIS

Charybdis, born from Gaïa and her son Poseïdon, was originally a sea-nymph whoflooded land to enlarge her father's underwater kingdom, until Zeus turned her into amonster.

In Greek mythology, Charybdis, or Kharybdis ("sucker down", Greek Χάρυβδις), is a seamonster, daughter of Poseidon and Gaia, who swallows huge amounts of water threetimes a day and then belches them back out again, destroying all the boats that sailaround. It takes form as a huge vortex that lives on one side of a narrow channel of water.

On the other side of the strait was Scylla, another sea-monster. The two sides of the straitare within an arrow's range of each other, so close that sailors attempting to avoidCharybdis will pass too close to Scylla and vice versa.

The phrase between Scylla and Charybdis has come to mean being in a state where oneis between two dangers and moving away from one will cause you to be in danger of theother

Between Scylla and Charybdis is the origin of the phrase "between the rock and thewhirlpool" (the rock upon which Scylla dwelt and the whirlpool of Charybdis) and may bethe genesis of the phrase "between a rock and a hard place"

CUSTOM ENCAUSTIC

Email Kiki for a custom work of art, your favorite musician pet portrait, etc.

KIKI@KISPIRIT.COM

CUSTOM ENCAUSTIC

CUSTOM ENCAUSTIC

CUSTOM ENCAUSTIC

TEXAS BORN AND BRED

TEXAS BORN AND BRED

TEXAS BORN AND BRED

CARING FOR YOUR ENCAUSTIC PAINTINGEncaustic paintings are durable and archival. As with all fine art forms, they should not be exposed todirect sunlight or extreme temperatures – they will thrive in temperatures between 35 and 150 degrees F

Indirect sunlight or bright, white lighting is desirable and will bring out the luminescent quality impartedby the wax medium.

An encaustic painting may develop a film on the surface for the first six to twelve months as the waxcures.

This is a natural process called "bloom" and is easily removed, along with shallow scratches, by wiping thesurface with a soft cloth. Always use a soft rag, never paper towels or abrasive material.

Dusting the painting surface with a soft brush and buffing it with a soft cloth periodically will maintainthe unique patina of the wax. If bloom appears again, repeat wiping process.

Email Kiki for questions or concernskiki@kispirit.com