Stepping Out

The Edmonds Arts Commission is pleased to present an exhibit featuring encaustic paintings by John Vandebrooke.

The exhibit at Edmonds Library runs now through March 13, 2010. Library hours are Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. The Edmonds Library is located at 650 Main St.

Encaustic art involves a technique in which pigment is mixed with melted wax, generally beeswax.

Greek artists were painting with encaustic as long ago as the 5th century BC, but over the centuries, encaustic was overtaken by other types of paint that were cheaper, faster, and easier to work with.

Artists experimented with encaustic in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it wasn't until the 20th century that its use was really revived with the availability of portable electric heating devices for melting the wax.

Encaustic painting captured John Vandebrooke’s artistic spirit six years ago and he continues to explore new ways to work with the medium. 

He uses the European method – using hot irons to paint with instead of brushes. He has explored many ways to work with the wax from just wax, to mixing it with tissues, photographs, rubber stamps, and putting it on different surfaces. 

A self-taught artist, Vandebrooke discovered Michael Bossom from Wales on the internet, and studied his books and videos.  He has worked in a variety of media over the past 40 years, but encaustic has captured his interest in a new way. 

Vandebrooke exhibits his work in the greater Seattle area and has taught encaustic and does demonstrations in local venues as well as in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oregon.