Gina Mariotti Shapard: Encaustic Paintings

Encaustic means “to burn in”. This paint consists of melted beeswax, damar resin crystals and pigment which Gina produces herself. As a warm liquid, the paint is applied with brushes or other special tools, each layer is fused by a heat gun to make layers of color and texture. The paint is usually applied to a board, as opposed to a canvas, for stronger support. When the paint is cool and cured, it can be buffed with a soft cloth to a gloss. From the moment of my Gina's introduction with this art medium, she have been “hooked” to the aroma of the beeswax, the luminosity of colors, and the options for building texture and relief.

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