Mixed Media Encaustic

Beginner & Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic 

Join artist Mary Milelzcik for the “Mixed Media Encaustic” workshop on Saturday, November 16, 2019, from 10 am – 3 pm at Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Encaustic is a mixture of beeswax, damar resin and pigment, which is applied to a solid absorbent surface. Each time a new layer is applied, it must be fused. The layers can be enhanced by carving with tools or drawing with pigment, oil sticks etc. Photographs can be transferred and other materials embedded to create a variety of amazing results with depth. Beginners to advanced!

Mixed Media Encaustic is a hands-on workshop, where you’ll learn safe studio practices, all the encaustic painting basics, and how to integrate encaustic painting into other media.  Encaustic techniques along with wet and dry shellac burns will be demonstrated. After instruction and experimenting, you will have the opportunity to create two encaustic paintings to take home with you. Since the holidays are approaching, you will have the option to make a set of holiday cards to share with your friends and family!

Mary will provide panels and handmade paper to use as substrates, cards and envelopes, and an assortment marking tools and brushes, and interesting papers, photographs, minerals, fibers, and other natural and found materials for students to incorporate into their paintings. Students are encouraged to bring other items they’d like to incorporate. Advanced students can consult with the instructor in advance regarding specific projects. You are encouraged to bring lunch and something to snack on. The class fee is $60/$55 for VAC members plus a $30 fee, inclusive of supplies.

Mary Milelzcik has a B.A. degree from Sonoma State University’s School of Expressive Arts, a radical two-year upper-division interdisciplinary experimental program that existed for several years in the 70’s. This transformative educational experience set the path for an interesting career as a mixed media artist and photographer; as the Curator at Highways Performance Space and Gallery in Santa Monica CA; and teaching experimental mixed media art and printmaking.  Photography is an important tool in her creative and documentary projects, as well as for capturing images to use as a base for her art projects.  Her studio Arts Asylum is located in Pahoa, where she teaches mixed media encaustic, papermaking and printmaking emphasizing the incorporation of natural materials as tools and/or part of the art. Her artwork has been shown internationally. Mary also has over 20 years of experience working with artists to advance their careers, and with nonprofits as a development strategist in Hawaii and California.