When it comes to new trends in art, Asheville is the place to be.
One very old painting method made new again is painting with beeswax, called encaustic painting. A number of studio artists in the WNC region are now working using wax to create glassy smooth luminous painting surfaces as well as three dimensional sculpture. The artists in the district use wax for paintings, collage work, mixed media sculpture, handmade books, basketry and jewelry. Many visitors comment they have never heard of or seen this type of painting before.
Encaustic artist Fleta Monaghan says, “Encaustic painting can only be found in some areas of the United States, but it is making a big comeback globally. Artists are always intrigued with finding new ways to express their visions. Working with wax paint offers so many challenges and today it is a wide opened field for experimentation.
“The ancients used fire and spatulas to decorate vases, sculpture, boats, and paint portraits and murals. It is so durable, murals even survived in Pompeii. It is more durable that oil paintings! I got hooked when we began teaching encaustic methods in 2009 at 310 ART. Now we have a vital program with many different classes offered using wax, from painting, printmaking, bookbinding using wax pages and covers, sculpture methods and even using cold wax which does not require heating.
“We have participants from all around the country come to us to learn these methods, and we are always developing and sharing new ways to work with wax as paint and sculpture. We are a “hot bed” of waxy painting!”
Visitors to the Studio Stroll in the River Arts District on May 21 & 22 will no doubt have the treat of both seeing a wide variety of encaustic work in many studios, but will get a chance to see some of the artists actually painting live in demonstrations.
310 ART at Riverview Station will be showing visitors how it is done at certain times throughout the weekend.
310 ART at Riverview Station
191 Lyman, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 776-2716, gallery@310art.com
www.310art.com