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.