You Know It Makes You Feel Pretty Good...

"Reef BreaK"; 2015 Encaustic on panel. Hanging in San Diego, CA- Private collection.

I remember making this painting. I was experimenting with traditional encaustics, it was late summer in San Diego and I was in my unfinished garage. To say it was hotter than a biscuit would be an understatement. Heating, layering, allowing things to dry, controlling the temperatures to avoid toxic fumes, reheating, repeat. It was exhausting... and I later sold my entire encaustic studio to a guy in Poway... 

During that experimental phase, I made a handful of paintings that I liked. It was difficult for me to manipulate the wax as I would the paint. I started the painting pictured above as a gift for a treasured friend.. I titled the painting "Reef Break". I seldom title my paintings.

Fast forward and "Reef Break" is still a hit. It makes me smile every time I see it hanging in his house. It's hanging under an awesome light fixture there, framed by the entry way..and at night, it looks really spectacular. 

I always stop to admire that painting.. I look into the layers and step back. I call it by name. I'm wondering.....should I title more of my paintings? Do titles give things life? For so long I have imagined that the owner of the artwork would appreciate naming it.... now I am not so sure.

I often wonder where my paintings are.....how they have traveled once they are sold...where they hang. Just sentimental, I guess.

I wish I knew how the encaustics are doing in Poway these days.......