Inspiration takes many forms…creativity is the outcome.

When I am asked what art medium I create in, I love to tell people, "All Things Wax". I specialize in two related yet different wax processes, Encaustics, and Cold Wax and Oils. Both mediums lend themselves to layering. The sum of the layers is an additive process that cannot be achieved by mixing the final color alone. It is the truest reflection of nature and light. It is the language I find most relatable, translating what I see and feel in color. Much of my inspiration comes from the rhythms of nature and organic forms, from the places where I have lived and love; the forests of Europe, Florida’s beautiful coastal waters, and the majestic mountains of Colorado. My intent is to capture a moment I experienced, create something that resonates, share this with others, and transport them to that place. Art is language, and when my art speaks to another person, it is extremely rewarding.

Encaustic is an ancient technique of painting that is a hot wax-based medium, composed of beeswax, dammar resin (tree sap), and pigment (analogous to those used in oil paints). When molten to roughly ~190°, the liquified pigmented wax is applied to a rigid absorbent surface. Subsequent layers of molten wax are applied to the painting and then heated to fuse the layers. I apply dozens of layers to give my paintings a translucent, 3-dimensional quality, that both obscures and reveals details I suspend in the wax. This is a time intensive process with many of my paintings taking between 20 – 60 hours applying layers over several days or weeks before I’m “done”. Swapping out my paint brushes for fire and flame has been an adjustment, yet it has expanded my ability to share my story of a place and moment I experienced with more depth, color, and texture that I have long desired for my artwork.

 Cold Wax and Oils, like Encaustics, employs beeswax as it’s medium. It lends itself well to layering and is great for additive and subtractive methods. Unlike encaustic, cold wax painting does not require heat. Layers of wax, mixed with oil paint, are built up and scraped back using palette knives, brayers, and pottery tools, revealing intricate textures and the rich history of each piece’s creation. The result is a complex tapestry of color and form that captures the rhythms and organic beauty of nature in a way that feels both immediate and timeless.

 As you engage with my pieces, I invite you to take your time and look deeper. The colors and forms that live just below the surface tell a richer and fuller story of the time and place of the scene.

 ~ Hana