First Winter is inspired by the elk that grace the Smoky Mountains and the winter season. In particular, this young bull was spotted wandering around my studio.

First Winter is an encaustic mixed-media assemblage painting. This painting holds multiple layers of hand-brushed encaustic wax, oil pigments, and copper leaf on a custom hand-made and painted sustainable birch wood cradled panel set within a hand-crafted custom-made assemblage box that is further enhanced with a mountain silhouette made of hardwoods with encaustic wax. This original encaustic mixed media work is extremely archival, non-reproducible, and lends depth to the painting creating a dream-like effect. 

This painting is set within a hand-crafted custom-made assemblage box enhanced with treated natural hardwoods.

Encaustic Fine Art Care –

• Encaustic works are extremely archival as the beeswax makes them impervious to moisture so they will not deteriorate, yellow, or darken. In addition, these works do not need to be varnished or protected by glass. 
• These archival works are quite durable, but as with any fine art, care should be given. In normal household conditions, there should be no fear of the work melting as the combination of the wax and resin will not melt unless exposed to temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit. It would not be advisable to leave an encaustic work in an automobile subject to extreme conditional temperatures or to hang in front of a window with direct high heat sun such as in a desert-like environment. Likewise, encaustic works could be sensitive to cold temperatures and these types of conditions should be avoided. 
• Some encaustic works may appear hazy or what is known as “bloom” over time. If work becomes hazy this can be alleviated by simply rubbing the surface with a soft lint-free cloth or nylon to return the work to its original nature as the encaustic wax continues to cure and harden during the first to third years of its life.

Buyers outside of the continental USA must contact me first for shipping information.