University of Brighton jointly with Sussex Coast College

Experiment 3 – What happens when I use wax on perspex? I like the opportunities perspex creates in providing a front and back support, as well as utilising its transparent qualities. I was curious about how encausic would react on this surface and was pleasantly surprised that it is possible to build up thick layers of texture and that the wax adheres to unprimed perspex without any problems.

Experiment 2 – What happens when I avoid figuration? My work is representational; I think maily because I subconsciously view abstraction as losing control.However, I am coming to realise that by removing conscious control, it is possible to learn new techniques and approaches which can then be re-applied in a more pre-determined manner. By banishing pre-conceived thoughts regarding composition and image I have accidently come across techniques which I may use in future works.

Our first task on the Top-Up is to reflect on our past practice and to question existing methods. As a painter, I have chosen to challenge the surface of my support, which I am hoping will liberate my approach. My first question to myself is:What happens when I allow the media to direct my work? Encaustic is a new medium to me and I am looking forward to allowing chance into the equation and to embracing accidents. This piece is inspired by the book “Mount Analogue” by Rene Daumal and relates to the symbolic significance of the mountain and our quest for knowledge and enlightenment. Materials used:encaustic, corrugated cardboard, old clothes patterns, oil paint, oil pastels and a blow-torch.