24” x 24,” encaustic on panel

The splattered highlights, dancing lime green stems, carved flower heads, and a bright and cheerful color palette all add up to one happy poppy painting! Hence the title of this piece - Summer Joy. This painting was created by layering and carving encaustic paint (pigmented beeswax with damar resin added to create an impervious surface). The central whorl of each poppy has circular carvings to represent the seeds, with the indentations filled with red-orange oil stick highlights (see closeup image). While real-life poppies have a relatively short blooming season, this perky painting will brighten up any room in your home year-round.

My encaustic paintings feature rich colors and textures, while the multiple layers and mark-making invite close looking. The luminous surface also makes you want to reach out and touch the painting, which you can! Unlike oil or acrylic paintings, encaustic paintings are hardened with natural resin, and the tough surface which won’t be damaged by your touching it. (You can touch the encaustic paintings in my studio, but please don’t try it in a museum — the guards will boot you out!!) 

For all large paintings, I offer free delivery in the Boston and Portland/southern Maine area.  You can see how the painting would look in your home, and I’ll help you hang the painting (if you’d like me to). If you aren’t happy with the painting for any reason, after seeing it in person, I will offer a full refund.