The Versatility of Encaustic
After painting realistically for 30 years and doing sculpture for ten years, I began working with encaustic. Like many others working with this medium, I was attracted to its translucency, luscious sheen and tactility. But I probably most appreciate the versatility of the medium, as one can use painting, collage, printmaking and sculptural techniques with it.
Three-dimensional encaustic sculptures can be formed using encaustic medium with wire, wire mesh, bamboo, plaster gauze, paper, natural fibers and more.
Encaustic Sculpture 3-Dimensional Exploration
I took a 3-D Encaustic workshop at Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill on Cape Cod about 6 years ago with Miles Conrad, an accomplished professional artist and owner of Conrad Wilde Gallery in Tucson, AZ. I respect and admire him as an artist and I love his work. It was wonderful to learn from him.
Working with encaustic off the two dimensional plane
After returning home, during one moment of exploration, I repeatedly dipped shaped paper into encaustic medium, built up the thickness of the surface, and adhered components together to make a larger sculpture. My Cluster series was born.
I’ve since use fabric and other fibers to create three-dimensional forms that resemble works in nature, but are unique abstractions. As with Earth Pod below, I have also cast encaustic into molds that I made from my sculptures.
3-D Encaustic Sculpture Workshops
Classes with Helen are available on Catalyst Art Lab.
Dare to move off the panel!
I hope that our art and this post inspire you, even if you aren’t able to attend the workshop, to explore 3-D encaustic sculpture.
Lovely work, Shannon!
I have been a working mixed media artist for 35 years, working with encaustic 3-2D since 2002- For working in 2/3D form “it’s a lot of time and special sauce techniques”, “know your material & surfaces”.
Thanks for commenting Shannon. Wow your work is inspiring!
I really need to see your work in person, it’s is so beautiful! Combining your talent with Alicia’s is going to make for one powerful workshop-WOW! Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much Lisa! Where are you located?
Thanks so much Helen for submitting this post! It is a great addition to the blog. You’ve inspired me. I’m starting to see where my art can go with three dimensions!
You’re quite welcome, Ruth. Thanks for inviting me! Alicia Forestall-Boehm and I look forward to sharing what we know in the upcoming 3-D Encaustic Workshop we are going to teach at my Chicago studio on October 21 – 22! Folks are already starting to register and space is limited, so if artists are interested, the can contact me now to reserve a spot!
Hi I was wondering if you will teach this class on line. I live in Southern Illinois and would love to take the class.
Online? Live way too far and would ❤️ ❤️ to take.
Great blog. We have one of Helen Dannely’s sculptures in The Museum of Encaustic Art along with 400 others. Check us out at moeart.org
Thanks Douglas Mehrens
Thanks Doug for mentioning. That’s one of my favorite pieces….!