Natural Impressions: Encaustic and Botanicals with Bridget Benton

Friday August 16th (10am to 4pm), Saturday August 17th (10am to 4pm), and Sunday August 18th (12pm to 4pm)- $395 – All materials included!

On the first day of this class, you’ll learn nature printing techniques using leaves, vegetables, and other natural objects with nontoxic, oil-based printing inks that clean-up with water! You’ll be working on reusable gel printing plates that are super-easy to use, and printing on a fabulous assortment of papers – you’ll learn ways to get fantastic detail and unique effects – all without a printing press. Make a ton of prints, then select your favorites to embed or encapsulate into encaustic wax the next day for a permanent luminous surface that needs no glass protective framing.

On the second day, learn the basics and safety of encaustics then dive into painting with wax! We’ll cover several techniques for collaging and embedding your prints into encaustic, as well as how to transfer a photocopy, bring out detail with oil paint and highlight with pastels. These combined techniques will allow you to create dynamic plant compositions full of depth. You’ll also learn how to embed flattened, dried botanicals directly in the encaustic! The final half-day will be dedicated to learning and practicing Bridget’s technique for making plant impressions directly into the surface of the encaustic! You’ll take home up to 4 finished encaustic works, and lots more nature prints you can frame, make into cards or use as collaging materials.