woven in the womb of the earth
encaustic
8×10 inches
sold
On Sunday I painted all day. It was a good day. I actually painted in encaustics for the first time in a long time. Well, a few months is not eternity, but it felt like it. I had to work on a project that has a deadline looming ahead and so I put on my filter, opened the window, turned on the fan and heated up the wax. I worked on 3 paintings at the same time. It was heaven. I don’t know what it is about encaustics and me, but there is never hesitation. Lately when I’ve been working on my acrylic paintings and panels, I sit there and stare blankly at my canvas, wander around my studio, get distracted. But with encaustics, I just go. It does what I envision. It’s the perfect combination for me of paint and clay. No, it’s nothing like clay, but it has that tactile quality for me. I can incise, make dots, scrape, etc. Some people go for the smooth, glass like finish with encaustics. I love how that looks. But me? I revel in the lumps and bumps, and the scritches and scratches.
Maybe it’s just that I missed working in it so much, that I had a lot of pent up creative energy just waiting for the palette to be heated up. Who knows? I’ll take it however it comes.
The title of this painting stems from Psalm 139 as this painting became a meditation for me on my pregnancy. The miracle and wonder at the life growing in me. Hidden in the darkness of my body. I am around 24 weeks now and my belly is already so big, I wonder how I’ll make it til the end! It’s amazing how much faster we pop out the second time around.
This is really something wonderful. And I’m with you – I don’t work in encaustics, but I must, must get my hands in there and get dirty and make marks. I cannot work on a blank canvas. I spend hours and hours building it up with papers before beginning.
I love this and I love the title.
Fabulous!
🙂 Debi
Beautiful piece!
I was just thinking about you Bridgette and wondering how the “bun in the oven” project was coming along. I’m glad to hear all is well. And thank you for letting me know about Molly Geissman and “lines and marks made by the soul of the hand.”
This is a beautiful encaustic painting.
you know how much i love your use of blue (which i use much too little of)….this is lovely. i’m so glad to hear all is well as you head into “hibernation mode” as winter approaches chicago.
I gained 20 pounds with my first son, 30 pounds with my second son, and 50 pounds with my third son—hope that doesn’t happen to you! 🙂
beautiful piece and wonderful that you were able to satisfy your hunger 🙂
so inspiring and lovely story
This is such a beautiful piece. I love the texture you put into your work. Glad you were able to get into encaustics again — at least for a bit.
What a wonderful meditation on your changing self, on the wonder of it all. And the smell of melted beeswax is heavenly, for sure.
This is so gorgeous, Bridgette!
I take my first encaustics workshop with Trish tomorrow! So excited!
Marvelous and very rich. Love it.
This reminds we why I bought some wax… I really must try it… oh dear… I’m gushing!
Love the piece and all that you’ve written. I love your approach to encaustics(something I hadn’t even heard about until I found your blog) Your work has a certain raw feel about it that is very appealing.
And about the new baby,yes the 2nd one is a breeze in every way!
that is a gorgeous piece and I love the words to go with it
this is gorgeous…so rich..
yay for baby no.2!!
Ohhh, I am really diggin’ the dark blue. I love the way encaustic looks.
Beautiful, beautiful piece!
Bridgette, this piece is incredible! I love your encaustics so much!
I was recommended this blog by Google Reader, and I love it. Your paintings are amazing! This is a beautiful piece. I’m like you, I love the rough textures, rather than the smooth. I think the visual aspect is the first experience in art, but the tactile should be the second experience. I love to run my hands over my work. I’ve never done the practise of encaustics, but it interests me greatly. I’m glad I came across your site.