My encaustic class has finished, so I’ve been spending some time doctoring up the seven pieces I started there. Here’s the latest one, “Tropical Mermaid.”
“Tropical Mermaid” by Catherine Raine, 2010
For the outline of the wax mermaid, I placed a magazine picture of a reclining model on the beeswax-coated wooden base. Then I traced the photo in black wax and pulled the paper away. I filled in the mermaid with green, red, and brown.
“Tropical Mermaid” by Catherine Raine, 2010
For the sun’s rays, I used curls of wax that I’d shaved from another piece, “Sushi Wax Cake.” The flower petals and the base of the mermaid’s crown also originated from former shavings. Finally, I rolled up more yet shavings into little blobs to make the wavy shapes and the nodules on the crown.
“Tropical Mermaid” by Catherine Raine, 2010
“Tropical Mermaid” by Catherine Raine, 2010