From Fiber to Flame: Exploring Cloth and Wax Encaustic Workshop
Art, for me, has always been about layering—layering history, materials, and personal narratives. My process with cloth and wax is deeply rooted in both tradition and transformation, a tactile way to explore memory, identity, and the beauty of emergence.
The Story Behind Cloth and Wax
I grew up surrounded by diverse cultural textiles—Japanese kimonos, Middle Eastern abayas, religious garments, quilts, and clothing hand-sewn by my grandmothers and aunts. Fabric carries history; it holds the imprints of time, touch, and personal stories. Incorporating cloth into my paintings allows me to connect with my lineage while giving discarded materials new life. The act of cutting, layering, and fusing cloth onto the surface is both an act of preservation and reinvention.
Wax, on the other hand, offers a luminous quality that both obscures and reveals. Encaustic painting—an ancient technique using molten beeswax and damar resin—allows me to embed textures, soften edges, and create a sense of depth that mimics topographies of landscapes. Through this process, the wax builds intricate layers that reflect the shifting, fluid nature of the land, where surfaces are marked and reshaped over time. The material binds elements together, much like a landscape where different terrains, histories, and movements coexist in a dynamic yet cohesive form. The resulting compositions become landscapes in themselves—living, evolving, and shaped by forces both natural and personal.
The Dance Between Control and Surrender
One of the reasons I’m drawn to working with cloth and wax is the dynamic balance between control and spontaneity. Cloth, with its softness and frayed edges, contrasts beautifully with the sculptural qualities of wax. I’m captivated by the unpredictability of how wax saturates the fibers, adds translucency, and lends structure to the fabric in unexpected ways. Embracing this uncertainty reflects something deeper—it mirrors life’s unpredictability, its risks, and the beauty of taking chances.
Join Me in Cloth & Wax - An Immersive Encaustic Workshop on April 6th
If you’re curious about working with these materials, I invite you to join my upcoming online class, Cloth & Wax. In this immersive encaustic workshop, we’ll explore:
How to incorporate cloth into your paintings to add texture and meaning
Encaustic layering techniques to create depth and translucency
Methods for embedding and distressing fabric with wax for a beautifully aged effect
This class is perfect for artists looking to expand their mixed media practice or anyone wanting to explore the expressive potential of textiles and encaustic. No prior experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to experiment!
Reserve your spot today!
I’d love to see how you make these materials your own. Feel free to reach out with any questions or share your work using #CLOTH&WAX. Let’s create something layered, luminous, and full of meaning!