Michelle Belto - Workshops

9:30-4:30

Winter Dates:
January 29-30,   February 11-12,    March 4-5,    April 9-10

Encaustics is the most sensual two-dimensional art medium in existence because the results that one can achieve using a process of molten beeswax, colored pigments and resin are like no other.   Artwork appears to glow, has both depth and translucency.  These richly textured surfaces just begged to be touched!

These two days of encaustics painting will be held at the Hot Wax Studio just outside of Bulverde, Texas.  The workshop includes the following topics:  Safe Studio Practices, Tools and Materials, Painting Techniques-- including dry brush, wet on wet, wash and glazing, masking out, spattering, staining, layering and scraping.  The second day includes Mixed Media techniques of transfer, collage, pouring, embedding, foil and gold leaf.  There will be demonstrations throughout the day with a lot of personal time to work on your own art.   

Materials Fee: $50  (Includes the use of tools and equipment, two prepared substrates, paint and medium. The class fee includes a light lunch, drinks and snacks throughout the work day.)

This two full days of encaustics painting will be held at the Hot Wax Studio just outside of Bulverde, Texas

9:30-4:30
Fall Dates:
September 20, October 11, November 13

Materials Fee: $25  (Includes the use of tools and equipment, sample substrates, three tins of paint and a block of medium to take home.. The class fee includes a light lunch, drinks and snacks throughout the work day.)
 
If the art of encaustics has lured you with its spell of unlimited options, brilliant colors and translucent washes, this workshop is now essential for you as an encaustic artist! In Encounters, we learned the addicting process of painting with molten beeswax. In Encaustic Essentials we will explore encaustic recipes and tools so that you can keep your studio stocked at a fraction of the cost. What you will take home in paint and medium is worth the cost of the class.

Encaustics Essentials is about the basics of your encaustic toolkit: medium, paint and supports.  We will first use medium recipes to make a batch of beeswax and damar.  While the medium is cooking, you wll be experimenting with color mixing properties in encaustics using commerical primaries and tinting colors.   Afterwards you will learn to safely make your own paints from oil paint and powdered pigments and to see how these paints respond to different surfaces. With your own new made paint colors you can explore how these paints work on a variety of supports including wood, aqua board, clay board, encausticboard and paper.

Please note that this is not a technique class. While there will be some time to create paintings, the majority of this class will be used to create and explore the materials of encaustics.

Fall Dates
September 18, October 9, November 6
9:30-4:30


Materials Fee: $25  (Includes the use of tools and equipment, two prepared substrates, paint and medium. The class fee includes a light lunch, drinks and snacks throughout the work day.)

This full-day of encaustics painting will be held at the Hot Wax Studio just outside of Bulverde, Texas. The workshop includes the following topics: History of Encaustics, Safety Issues, Tools and Materials, Mixing Paint in Wax, Transparent and Textural Painting Techniques, Scraping Back, Line and Edge, Incising and Mark-making, Using Stamps and Stencils. There will be demonstrations throughout the day with a lot of personal time to work on your own art.   

What could be better than an encaustics retreat…peaceful and beautiful setting in the Texas Hill country…a healthy yet delicious lunch…a gracious space to relax during the work day …and, of course, quality instruction with all supplies provided. Join us at the Hot Wax Studio and experience encaustics for yourself.

Waxed Paper Workshop
Various Locations (See online Calendar)
 

Waxed Paper Workshop will present the student an overview of basic paper making techniques and the application of encaustic on handmade paper supports, Students will see demonstrations in paper and encaustic technique and have ample time for guided exploration on their own with the ability to create several completed works and be able to take home paper supports for work in their own studios.  The material is taken from Michelle's upcoming book, Pulp to Painting, Explorations in Paper and Wax.

DAY ONE  

We will spend the first day of the workshop as a paper maker discovering ways that paper can be wrapped, glued, waxed, pulped, pulp painted and cast. Students will create paper and paper substrates for use in the next two days of the workshop in wax.

Day TWO

In the morning, we will expand the exploration of paper by forming high shrinkage paper into sculptural creations that will offer it’s own surprise overnight. In the afternoon, the wax will heat up and we will begin to experience the marvelous ways that wax can enhance the surface of paper.   On day two we will concentrate on traditional painting techniques using the paper we created in the previous day. 

Day Three

In the encaustic studio we will add wax to our sculptures, learning how to build up the wax on the paper through dipping and accretions. Moving back to our paper supports, we will use a variety of mixed media materials and tools-- including wood burners, torches, screens, stamps and watercolor—to create exciting under paintings for the wax. The afternoon will be devoted to work time, clean up and showing off!