A Book Review of Embracing Encaustic
Linda and William Womack's Book on Learning to Paint with Beeswax
Encaustic painting is the art of painting with pigments and wax. Linda and William Womack have perfected this art form and have created a book called Embracing Encaustic to teach others its history and techniques.
About the Authors
The Womacks are an artistic married couple that have come together to make a very readable how-to art book. Linda Womack is an accomplished art instructor and artist that has been honing her skills for more than 20 years. She has been featured on the Home and Garden Network and currently teaches workshops on encaustic techniques. William Womack is a writer and designer that writes about the Portland arts scene. Their knowledge and skill is evident in Embracing Encaustic.
Content
Embracing Encaustic includes all of the information that a beginning encaustic painter would need. It starts by educating the reader about the history of the art form, describing how ancient Greeks combined the beeswax used to caulk hulls of boats and pigments to make paintings.
Next, it informs the reader about the supplies they will need to get started, definitions of basic terms they will need to know, and beginning tips and tricks.
The book continues by teaching readers how to make encaustic medium and paint in a very simple and easy to understand way. Should you decide to use only pre-made encaustic paints, the book has reviews of the more popular paints so that you can make an informed decision before you buy.
The middle section of the book includes detailed demos of techniques such as using stencils and masks, incising lines, how to reveal layers, and how to do image transfers. Each demo includes finished examples of artwork that uses these techniques.
The last section of the book is a gallery of encaustic artworks by various artists. The gallery allows readers to see the wide scope of possibilities that the encaustic medium offers artists.
Features
The Womacks’ book has several features that are invaluable to those wanting to learn the medium.
For those curious about where to get the unusual supplies needed for encaustic painting, there is a resource guide in the back of the book, complete with contact information. This section also includes information on encaustic artist organizations and reference books.
Safety tips are sprinkled throughout this guide to protect the reader. These tips cover a range of advice such as how to keep your wax from catching fire and when to use ventilation.
Overall, Embracing Encaustic is the perfect book for anyone wanting to start painting with encaustic.
Publishing Details
Here are the publishing details for Embracing Encaustic:
Paperback with 80 pages
Published by Hive Publishing; Second edition (May 15, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0981677428
ISBN-13: 978-0981677422
Book Dimensions: 7.8 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches
Embracing Encaustics
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Reading & Literature
Latest Articles