This encaustic painting was made out of two 12” square panels. I was experimenting with mixed media and encaustic. This is one of the first encaustic compositions I made. I want to continue to explore the encaustic medium for my work because I feel the wax has a wonderful translucent quality that gives depth to flesh. In this piece I also used joint compound, powdered pigments, shellac and synthetic tar to give it dimension and a crusty texture that would be representative of the decay of a mummy. Invictus is part of my series of Mummies and Ancients. It continues to be meaningful for me to explore how cultures have ritualized death. Why is it that we feel a need to preserve the human body after its divine source of energy has moved on? Certainly there is a reverence for those we have admired or loved in this lifetime, but I can’t help but think it might also be to satisfy our quest to connect with other realms.
“Breathless Being Now
Though Life Seethes Within Thy Bones
Mark Night, and Day Begins”
