SYC On The Road posts offer a from-the-field inside look at art retreats and conferences. This week Jess Greene is at EncaustiCamp in Salem, Oregon.

EncaustiCamp has come to a close. The smell of beeswax lingers, as does the oily feeling on my fingers. Personally, I am satisfied by the knowledge I have acquired and the wonderful memories I have of playing side-by-side some great artists. Participants agreed that the small size allowed everyone to get to know each other and the instructors delivered top-notch classes.

Talent and inspiration was plentiful. One of the best reasons to go to an art retreat is to be around other creative people and let them rub off on you. I stayed in the dorms with 8 other women and the evenings were full of laughter, wine, and more art making.

Work from all the classes.

Michelle Belto's Class

Friday I took Michelle Belto’s Waxed Paper class. We started the class by talking about the compatibility of wax and paper. Michelle covered paper making and how she got started with paper making and wax. We then made our own paper from pre-made pulp Michelle provided for us. We learned how to use a pour mould and deckle and used a plywood and tension strap press to press the paper. Once the paper was pressed over lunch, we took out the damp paper and wrapped it around styrofoam board. Since these take a while to dry Michelle also provided us with pre-made substrates to paint on in the afternoon. One special characteristic of the handmade paper on foam board is the weight. The boards are exceptionally light compared to panels. The afternoon finished with us playing with painting on handmade paper.

Bridgette Guerzon Mills' Class

Saturday I took Bridgette Guerzon Mills‘ class called A Book of Images and Wax. I am in love with her wax art books and was really looking forward to combining book-making with encaustics. The class was laid-back and Bridgette was an amazing teacher, especially since this retreat was her first art teaching experience. Bridgette had us construct an accordion book from book board and binding tape, with an optional set of pages sewn into the back. Through layering and transferring our own set of images into the book each student created a beautiful themed book with instant character.

A Magical Moment

Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch's Class

I stopped into Trish’s class too. Trish was teaching a wide variety of encaustic mixed media techniques, including using tar, plaster, wood icing, burning tools and the lovely PearlEx powders we all received from Jacquard in our welcome bags. Trish taught students which mediums to use on which surfaces and gave a variety of examples, but also encouraged experimentation. It was a buzzing hive of creativity in the classroom. So many different tools and mediums! They were even burning wood glue.

The last two evening were spent relaxing, talking, and screening two films: Nova’s Inside the Hive and Who Does She Think She Is?

Dorm Divas: the women who stayed on campus

I do declare the first EncaustiCamp a true success. The atmosphere was welcoming, the setting was beautiful, and the instructors were inspiring and encouraging. Congratulations, Trish!

The Instructors