V Franck Wetsch
"Creation happens to us, burns into us, changes us,
we tremble and swoon, we submit.
Creation - we participate in it,
we encounter the creator, offer ourselves to him, helpers and companions."
-- Martin Buber --
My original encaustic paintings consist of beeswax, damar crystals (a fossilized resin) and pigments. In its molten state, the medium is painted and fused onto a surface substrate. Visual depth is achieved through its many layers and the pollen in the wax produces a final golden luster. Over time, the surface cures and hardens into an ever enduring work of art.
The History Of Encaustic Painting
Encaustic art uses a medium and painting technique invented by the ancient Egyptians, the original beekeepers.
The art was perfected by the Greeks and the Romans continued to develop the method. Leonardo Da Vinci and Van Gogh experimented with the medium and the art was later revived by modern practitioners such as, Diego Rivera, Picasso and Jasper Johns. Also known as “hot wax painting,” the Greek term, enkaustikos means “to burn in.”
Mystical Hexagon
Beekeeping was centered in Lower Egypt and the bee, a symbol for the kingdom, characterized the tears of the sun god, Ra.
Honey’s glucose molecule is a precise hexagon and according to Pythagoras, the hives hexagonal cells represent a fundamental cosmic order.
Care For Your Encaustic Painting
Encaustic paintings have exceptional archival properties when cared for as with all fine art forms. Indirect sunlight or bright, white lighting is desirable and will bring out the luminescent quality imparted by the wax medium. These paintings should not be exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures such as with a fireplace or heater. Encaustic paintings thrive in temperatures between 35 and 125 degrees F.
Encaustic "Bloom"
An encaustic painting may develop a film on the surface for the first six to twelve months as the wax cures. This is a natural process called "bloom" and is easily removed by gently wiping the surface with a lint free soft cloth.
Our Bees & Colony Collapse Disorder
What do we risk if tomorrow, we found that the planet was without bees? Our honeybees are vital to the world’s ecosystem and they are a key contributor to our major food crops through the natural process of pollination. At present, in many parts of the world, we are experiencing significant losses of our cultivated and natural bee colonies for reasons which we cannot yet explain. This mystery, called Colony Collapse Disorder, has severely damaged and endangered our honeybee colonies. As an encaustic artist, I became aware of Colony Collapse Disorder through my interaction with beekeepers. My concern regarding this crisis has led me to promote awareness of continuing research concerning CCD. We can begin to help our bees by providing them with a natural, healthy environment free from pesticides. Please support honeybee research and support our local beekeepers.
For more information about CCD, visit American Beekeeping Federation online: www.abfnet.org & www.honeybeepreservation.org