Actually, encaustic painting is one of the oldest forms of art in the world.  It is done by mixing pure pigment (minerals from the Earth) with beeswax and resin, and fusing them  onto wood or other prepared surfaces, using heat.  It has been used in the creation of art dating back to Ancient Egypt… but that’s not why I found myself so interested.

closeupbrush.jpgBeing a photographer, I love the idea of incorporating photographs into other mediums.  My second love was painting.  I never did anything with it beyond college, until now.  This weekend, I attended a mixed media encaustic workshop by local artist, Helen DeRamus.  She showed us the proper tools and techniques for creating encaustic works of art.  The possibilities are truly endless.Helen.jpgHelen provided me with some semi-transparent silk sheets (think pantyhose), and I printed some old images that I had found in my grandparent’s stash of photos from their travels throughout Europe in the 1950s.

heat gun.jpgI was careful not to burn the silk, so used an electric heat gun to fuse the image into a layer of wax medium.  After I built up a few layers, I took a torch to it.  Working with fire is awesome.  No better way to word it.

Paw1.jpggommypaw.jpgAnd so, it looks like I’m going shopping for materials.  My office/studio space is getting very, very crowded.

To see Helen’s work, please check out her website or visit DK Gallery, in the Marietta square.

 

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Morningside Farmers Market, like many of the markets in Atlanta, hosts a Chef’s Demonstration every Saturday morning.  Today, I had the pleasure of meeting Joey Ward, Executive Chef of Kevin Gillespie’s renowned, Gunshow.

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On the menu: VEGAN (not typically what I would look for, but HOLY SHIT…) Coconut Curry Creamed Corn.  Although Gunshow claims to be a “Southern Restaurant”, you can find anything from In-N-Out style burgers, to Thai inspired dishes, served dim-sum-style by the chefs themselves.

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No, I haven’t been there. However, I will be making a reservation today.  Which means, I should hopefully make it to dinner in about a month or so.  Stay tuned for updates…

Morningside Farmers Market is the first and only farmers market in Atlanta that requires all produce to be certified organic.  This week, there seemed to be a theme going on…  We picked up some purple bell peppers, purple okra, and mini eggplant.  They taste the same as their traditionally colored brothers, but I think they make for much better presentation.purple okra.jpg

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After shopping, drop into Morningside Kitchen, located in the former Rosebud space.  Morningside Kitchen is brought to you Tom Murphy, of Murphy’s (arguably one the best brunch’s in the city for the past 35 years), and boasts a very similar menu to that of it’s predecessor.  Try the house recipe Bloody Mary.  After all, what’s farmer’s market shopping on a Saturday morning, without a boozy vegetable based refreshment?  It’s fabulously appropriate.

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