Cryptic Encaustics with Linda Lenart McNulty: Encaustic Jewelry Making DeMystified

In just a few weeks, Linda Lenart McNulty will be teaching some amazing encaustic workshops at Art & Soul Portland.  One of which is Wearable Encaustic Shrines where she will show you how to create beautiful, wearable works of art like these...

I mean... seriously... are these gorgeous or what? And just to get you excited about what she has to offer, Linda has graciously allowed us to share a bit of her encaustic techniques right here on our blog! So... take it away, Linda....

Greetings fellow artists!

I’m Linda Lenart McNulty, the artist/owner of Luminous Encaustics (luminousencaustics.com), and I want to share an technique I created called “Cryptic Encaustics”.

Encaustic art involves the painting and pouring of warm, pigmented beeswax and tree sap, which is then layered and scraped, revealing its naturally luminous and transparent nature. Encaustic Painting is transformed into a wearable form in my work and classes. If you’re not familiar with encaustic art or with encaustic jewelry, take a look at this Step-Out below.

P.S. I’ll be teaching at Art & Soul in Portland in a couple weeks so come take a workshop or come introduce yourself to me at the Luminous Encaustics Table on Vendor’s Night for more encaustic surprises (I’ll have encaustic jewelry kits too!)! See you there!

~Linda

Luminous Encaustics Cryptic Encaustics Jewelry Kit      

Cryptic Encaustics…Opening the Kit       

Cryptic Encaustics…Lots of Goodies…       

Melt one of the Luminous Encaustic Wax Blox. I like to choose the lightest color to start.

Warm one of the Bezels.         

Pour the warm encaustic wax into the warm bezel, up to the top but not overflowing.

Pour off the extra wax to save it. Aluminum or Silicone are good choices.

Melt your next Wax Blox right on the griddle.         

Warm your brush on the griddle and begin coating your first layer with your next color.

Fuse the two encaustic layers together. Fuse with a micro torch, embossing heat gun, or large heat gun. When the wax looks transparent it is fused so move along.

Wipe your griddle to remove any excess color. I left a little to mix into my new color.

Melt your third color choice right on the griddle. I use the two mid-range colors for my middle layers, saving the darkest color for last.

Paint as much as you like onto your piece and fuse.       

Lightly warm your stamp on the griddle after wiping it clean.   

Rub a little olive oil on the stamp (the side with the grooves).  

Press firmly into the wax.           

You really want to dig the stamp into the wax. I like to make the wax displace itself off to the sides. This adds for interest and mystique later.

Lift off the stamp.        

Use other mark making objects around the house. Metal and wood work the best…

Warm them on the griddle!         

Oil the tool and press deeply to displace the wax.          

Oil and press…..       

Oil and press…..       

Oil and press……      

Melt your darkest color Wax Blox on the griddle.       

Load your brush with color and really get it into the crevices.        

After a while, switch colors for interest….        

Continue loading and painting into the crevices.         

Fuse this lumpy mess!        

Now to cool the wax so you can scrape. Let it rest at room temperature a while, then try dunking it into a cold glass of water or the fridge (if you are impatient like me!)

Scraping is the most fun, Now you get to see what you’ve made! Leave dark areas for mystique but scrape a few areas down to that first pale color.

Warm your tools and wipe with a paper towel to clean them.    

For a little more intrigue, rub some oil on the surface of the finished piece, then rub oil paint onto select areas. If you change your mind, it will rub right off because of the oil. I mixed veridian and ultramarine with black. Fuse lightly to lock the oil paint in place.

I added a little ribbon and wire on jump rings (go to the Wearable Shrine Directions for instructions). Cryptic Encaustics!

Cryptic Encaustics – by Luminous Encaustics (and now by you!!) 

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Well... thanks so much Linda, for sharing this comprehensive and delightfully creative step-by-step tutorial! We're so excited to have you at our Portland Art & Soul event this year... 

Linda Lenart McNulty 

Portland Art & Soul 

Wearable Encaustic Shrines - Thursday, April 10, 2014 

Encaustic Daguerreotype Paintings - Friday, April 11, 2014 

Luminous Layering in Encaustic Painting - Saturday, April 12, 2014 

So check out her classes and the entire Portland event on our website ArtAndSoulRetreat.com! 

Welcoming Encaustic Artist Linda Lenart McNulty to Portland 2014!

We are so very pleased and excited to announce the addition of Linda Lenart McNulty to our Portland 2014 lineup! Linda is an Encaustic and Figurative Artist that teaches Encaustic Painting, Encaustic Jewelry and Encaustic Casting, along with workshops in Polymer Sculpting, Casting and Assemblage of Santos. She received her A.A. in Fine Art and her B.F.A. in Modern Dance/Teaching at Columbia College, Chicago. Linda is pioneering a new field in Encaustic Jewelry and has created a series of Encaustic Jewelry Kits and Luminous Encaustic Wax Blox™ to give artists the support they need as they venture into this new land of Encaustic Art! 

With a background in dance, it was her love of movement that led Linda to follow a passion for sculpting the human form. And it was the sculpting that led her to carve in wax, which led her to Encaustic Painting and visual mixed media art.

And, yes... in case you were wondering if Linda Lenart McNulty was related to one of our longtime, favorite mixed media jewelry teachers — Susan Lenart Kazmer — you are absolutely correct. They're sisters!

Linda will be teaching 3 classes with us in Portland next year. Here's a look at the gorgeous mixed media creations she has in store for you. Check out the links to read more about these intriguing workshops... 
 

Wearable Encaustic Shrine - Thursday,  April 10   

Encaustic Daguerreotype Paintings - Friday, April 11 

Luminous Layering in Encaustic Painting - Saturday, April 12 

Want to learn more about this talented artist? Visit Linda's website, luminousencaustics.com or check out her blog about the creative process. She loves talking with students of art and life, for that’s what we all are! 

For more information on our Portland Art & Soul retreat, check out our website and sign up today!

Virginia Beach... An "Event-ful" Trip!

Well, folks... we had another great event at Art & Soul Virginia Beach this year! Just as we wrapped up our Kansas City event, it was practically time to start packing for this trip! And what a great time it was. I mean... look at the view from the hotel balcony! And the weather was very cooperative this year. Hooray!

The opening night party put on by The Bead Goes On was a great icebreaker for the event. Everyone showed up in their safari best and enjoyed themed food, jungle decor, and wonderful goodies from our sponsor. It was a great way to relax, meet other students and teachers, as well as have a little fun before the creative classes began.

Did I mention having a little fun? Well... um... yeah. We did. And Marie is always there to rescue me if I've been "hanging around" for too long! Gotta get a good night's sleep so I'm well rested for the official opening day!

So here I am in the "office"... our little makeshift area where we check you in for your classes. And  there's a lot less of me than there was last year... after all the weight I've lost. Yay me!

This venue seems to bring out the best in everyone. The bayside waves lapping at our doorsteps and the smell of salt in the air just remind you to slow down and enjoy the moment. And that's really what Art & Soul is all about... being in the moment. Enjoying the journey. Soaking up new ideas and techniques like a sea sponge! It's easy to do here. Just look at the results!

Whether you were waxing poetic in Serena Barton's class or...

...waxing collaged houses in Stephanie Rubiano's workshop, the sweet smell of beeswax had everyone abuzz!

Lots of time? How about trying your hand at a Steampunk clock, like Sheila, who came all the way from Key West, Florida to stretch her creativity!

How about jewelry making with a bang? Lynne Suprock showed her students how to use shotgun shells to create these "charming" rings!

And speaking of charming... isn't this Chandelier from Sally Jean Alexander's Mini Ella class just divine? The photo is a little out of focus but this student's work wasn't. How fabulous! Absolutely gorgeous!

And boy, do we treat our babies well at Art & Soul! They're all bottle fed around here. Whoops! Wait a minute... is that a heat gun? Of course it is. These vintage dolls are getting an upcycling in Clarissa Callesen's Steampunk Sally workshop.

Got mold? No, not that kind... the good kind! Molds you can use over and over and over and over again after you create tons of them in Ty and Marcia Schultz' class. The wheels are turning just thinking about all the ways I could use them!

Shhhhhh. Quiet. Sometimes what you hear when you walk into a classroom here is nothing. Not a peep. And that, my friends is the sound of creative concentration. (whispering...) Can you hear it?

Oh, what shall I do next? Where shall I go from here? So many possibilities! So much fun in Mindy Lacefield's Journal Play class. Mindy puts the wheeee in whimsical!

And there was some Delectable Doodling going on in Kari McKnight's class! Just look at that juicy journal fodder. Yum!

And painting...

And clay figure making...

And of course vendor night is always a fun frenzy! Shopping for vintage bits and baubles as well as finished artwork from several of our very own instructors is a magical time for us mixed media mavens. I know I go around at least 3 or 4 times... just to make sure I didn't miss anything!

We also had a rockin' on-site store thanks to Judy Gula and Artistic Artifacts. Fun demos from Ken with Spellbinders... we even snuck in a late night pajama party! Wow! So thanks again to everyone... the gracious hotel staff, my right hand chicks, the teachers, the attendees, and everyone else who made this such a spectacular time. Until Portland...

Hugs,
Glenny