Bruce Campbell
ABOUT THE ARTIST
How Do I Make Encaustic Art?
In ancient times, the Greeks discovered that they could waterproof their ships using beeswax, hardened with damar resin (pine pitch). The oldest surviving encaustic paintings are the Fayum mummy portraits, dating from Egypt in the 1st Century BC. Encaustic art is durable!
When I work, I simply use a pancake griddle to melt the beeswax/damar resin mixture. The wax mixture, along with pigment, if desired, is then applied to support with a brush. Paper can easily be embedded in the wax, as can chunks of metal, beads, string, or organics (leaves, feathers, etc.). Perhaps the most attractive aspect of this medium is the placing of many layers of semi-transparent wax on top of each other, making possible striking texture, depth, and luminosity.
Teachers
- My experience with encaustic art began at the International Encaustic Association annual conference in Albuquerque in October of 2016. I have been able to study with several artists who launched me in my current career. In particular:
- Michelle Belto, 2016, 2018 and 2020
- Elizabeth Schowachert, 2019
Memberships and Shows
I am a member of the International Encaustic Artists and the Southern Utah Artists’ Guild, and I participate in the latter’s shows regularly.