Guest Artist for June: Karla Johnson from Big Springs.  Karla is a self-taught encaustic and mixed media artist.  Her work is inspired by the natural world and she expresses those themes using encaustic medium, encaustic paint, oil pigment sticks, paper ephemera, vintage photos, cyanotype alternative photography, and found natural objects. She also works with cold wax medium and oil paint which differs from encaustic as heat is not used in the process.
​Johnson is a member the Ash Hollow Art Club and a founding member of the Blue Water Gallery in Lewellen.  She is also a member of the Ogallala Arts Society and has shown her work several times at the Petrified Wood Gallery.  In 2019 she was awarded the Certificate of Excellence at the ANAC-Association of Nebraska Art Clubs conference.  Her work was shown in venues across Nebraska as a result of that award.

Encaustic Painting Basics 
“Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using a heated encaustic medium to which colored pigments have been added for creating artworks. Molten medium is applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are sometimes used.” via Wikipedia. 
The process of encaustic painting is extensive and requires multiple steps to achieve the finished product. The work is created one layer at a time as the surface is built up with the wax medium which is made from bee’s wax and damar resin. The layers can also include paper and other porous materials. Once each layer is placed it must be fused using a heat gun or torch. Depth in the image is the result of the layering process. The final work can then be buffed to create a sheen. 
Encaustic paintings are very durable. The beeswax and resin are impervious to moisture, making them extremely archival; they will not yellow or darken. 
Do not frame encaustics under glass; there is no need. Plus, you will loose the beauty of the wax and how the light plays with the painting. 
Even though they are extremely archival, encaustics should be handled with care to avoid scratching the surface and to protect the edges. 
Do not subject the painting to extreme temperatures; do not leave in a hot car, outside in the direct sun or subject it to extreme cold. They do best in stable temperatures 40-125 degrees F. 
Encaustic paintings may develop "bloom", a hazy white residue, in the first year as the wax is curing. It is completely normal and is easily removed by gently wiping the surface with a soft cloth. It is good practice to wipe the painting surface at least once a quarter to maintain the beauty of the piece.