The danger of toxic fumes from improperly heated wax.

Back in April or May, I decided to go outside on the patio and make my medium. In the process, I forgot to put down a piece of plywood to protect the patio from wax spills. (It's that gravel kind and difficult to clean wax from between the gravel.) In the process, a bee flew at me and I bumped the container and spilled at least 8 oz of wax.

Even though it was quite warm out, it still became solid so I had to get my heat gun to clean it up. Now here is where I was not too smart. I didn't have on a respirator mask and I was bent right over the wax melting (on a high setting) and wiping. I didn't work straight, I took breaks. But about 20 minutes in, I got this feeling like someone was standing on my chest and I could not breath. It dawned on me that I was there breathing in all these fumes! I went out farther into the yard to get some fresh air. It helped but I was still having some problems breathing.

I went to the emergency room and after two rounds of breathing treatments I can't believe I was so careless. I had to go have follow-up chest x-rays later that week and then again two weeks later.

I can't believe I was so careless. I just wanted to share this with everyone as a reminder to be very careful. I let my guard down with ventilation because I was outside. So everyone, please, please, please be careful.

Sun and Moon Electric Battle

Mixed media on canvas (30x30in)

I love the energy of this piece. Of course starting out I had no idea where I was going. Just started by smacking paste on the canvas and creating texture with pallet knives, combs, fingers and a stick.

I was asked how I decided on the colors. Well here is my highly refined method of selecting colors. I have several boxes of cut up paint chips. One in muted colors, one in bright colors and with everything mixed together. I close my eyes, reach into the box and grab a handful. I then shake my hand until some fall out. Whatever is left is my color pallet. No deep thought or pondering for me. I just take what I get and make it work somehow.

The Implosion

I started this painting with the intention of it being called explosion. However, I got carried away with the eggshells in the center and it looked more like they were being pulled in as opposed to forced out.

I was hesitant to add color. For some reason the dark, funky, craziness appealed to me.


However, I do like the muted colors in the final piece.
Mixed Media on 30x30 canvas

Close up of the eggshells and spackle texture.

Random thought of the day....

I wish I had a color chart of every color available in every brand of paint, that would fold up into a nice compact 2x2x2 square that I could keep in my purse.

...hey I didn't say the thought would be practical.

The meltdown

Riddle me this....what happens when you leave an encaustic piece in a car in 70 degree heat in direct sunlight? Yup, you guessed...meltdown city.

Remember the Bursting Sunset piece:


Well after my neglect it is now this:


But before anyone panics and wants to have memorial for the lost piece....I like this version better. To me it mimics the nature of volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands. The lava destroys the land, however as soon as the magma cools, new landscapes are formed. God is the original artist. What HE destroys, HE can recreate in a more awesome and impressive form. Coincidently, this piece was destroyed and reborn on Easter Sunday...it was a reminder that in death and destruction, there is a rebirth. The symbolism was not lost on me and is a reminder of my faith in HIM.

Random Thoughts...ok fine...a rant.

Some days, I question the validity of calling myself an “artist”. I still struggle with the definition of this term. Is there one definition or is the definition less solid, almost fluid in nature, morphing to meet the individual it is applied to?

Now I don't question my talent or the quality of the pieces I create. I question how I fit by definition in the art world...and also whether I want to or not.

This started churning around in my head when I attended an opening last week...and what I encountered was a room full of snobs...well with the exception of the 5 of us outcasts that banded together, looking for an escape of this pedigreed group.

Why do we consider ourselves to be outcasts? None of us had a formal "art education". My only "so called" formal education were the art classes I had in high school. However, that has never stopped me from learning, researching and experimenting. Nor does it stop me from churning out works of art to rival those with "formal" art educations. Once the "degreed" attendees learned that we didn't have that formal training, have not been featured in "such and such" gallery, been published...or yada, yada, yada we were pretty much ignored. So as such, we a group of strangers banded together and enjoyed the showing.

Now, I am not taking anything away from those that have pursued and completed art and advanced art degrees. I admire that they had the will to make it through the art appreciation, art survey, art history, etc classes. I am more of a jump in hands on person. Looking at slides and listening to lecturers just won't hold my attention for long. As a matter of fact, I nearly went mad with the lecture, listening classes required for my BS in Computer Science. That being said, there are people in the IT world with not degree whatsoever, no college courses or advanced education that I would trade my degree in a heartbeat to have the knowledge that they have. I'm serious as a heart attack about that.

I am a self-taught artist...and a proud one at that. Well...I guess that answers my question. I am an artist. Maybe not what this group would define as one...but instead one of my own definition.

Burn Baby Burn!

Ha....I'm getting bolder and bolder. It wasn't enough for me to just get back into melting wax, not to mention the blow torch.

My latest caper...burning shellac. Yep, that same shellac that used as a finish for wood floors, furniture and the like. Yep the same shellac that says, usually in bold letters, "FLAMMABLE!" Yep that same shellac, I am intentionally setting on fire.

I love texture and random patterns, so I couldn't help but to fall in love with this process. I used some of my "cough cough" not so visually appealing 1st encaustic paintings to test this process on. Wow...who knew a little fire could make something so ugly so beautiful.

I don't have pics of the originals...again, some ugliness should never be recorded, but here is one of the pieces after the shellac burn has been done.

This was the 1st burn that was done. I'ts ok, but I decided to experiment and add another layer in different colors.


After the second layer was done. Marvelous, it I do say so myself.




I've also made my Youtube debut with a quick shellac burn demo.