Encaustic Art: The Complete Guide to Creating Fine Art with Wax [Paperback]

Lissa Rankin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2010

With a history that stretches back to the hauntingly beautiful mummy portraits of Greco-Roman Egypt, encaustic art is now enjoying a renewal of popularity among artists and art lovers alike. Today, museums are staging exhibitions of encaustic art, workshops in the technique are thriving, and art collectors and dealers are assimilating encaustic art into their collections and galleries.
 
The word encaustic is taken from the Greek and means “to burn in.” In the encaustic process, pigmented wax is applied and then fused to a surface with heat. The result is a broad range of surface effects and a luminous translucency that is unique to the encaustic medium. Encaustic Art is a complete resource for artists who wish to learn to create fine art with wax. It features step-by-step techniques with easy-to-understand instructions and detailed illustrations, stunning examples of encaustic works of art (including sculpture), along with practical advice and thoughtful aesthetic observations from more than 60 professional artists working in the encaustic medium.
 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

LISSA RANKIN’s encaustic paintings and sculptures are represented in prestigious galleries and museums in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. During her artistic career, she has developed an international reputation as an expert on encaustic and has been invited by a variety of art schools, conferences, workshops, and artists’ retreats to speak on encaustic art. Trained as an OB/GYN physician, her art reflects life’s events, such as birth and loss, and her continued work as a physician breathes life into her art.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; 1 edition (August 10, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823099288
• ISBN-13: 978-0823099283
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.7 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lissa Rankin, M.D., is a practicing gynecologist and the founder of the Owning Pink center in Mill Valley, California, which is dedicated to redefining what it means to be healthy, vibrant, and alive as a woman in the twenty-first century. Visit her on the web at www owningpink com.

"I once thought I had to put myself in a box and choose who to be. But I now accept that, while I am so many things, no single identity defines me. I am more than what I do. We all struggle with who we really are and whether our lives reflect our truest selves. I now strive to be authentic, in all aspects of my life, whether I'm healing or painting or writing or teaching, and I encourage others to do the same." ~Lissa Rankin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Encaustic Book, August 19, 2010

By 

C. Klich - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Encaustic Art: The Complete Guide to Creating Fine Art with Wax (Paperback)

This book is for the beginner as well as the professional encaustic artist. It offers so many ideas and great photos. Many techniques are covered along with a wealth of ideas that I haven't even thought of yet. I am a professional artist and instructor and will definitely recommend this book to my students. There are gallery shots as well as close-up details photos and artists working in their studio. I would love to see a companion book to this one that goes into even more detail on the techniques. Great work Lissa!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Encaustic Textbook, August 30, 2010

By 

Tuareg Trader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encaustic Art: The Complete Guide to Creating Fine Art with Wax (Paperback)

If Joanne Mattera's book is the Encaustic Bible Old Testament, Lissa Rankin's Encaustic Art is the New Testament we've all been waiting for. I've bought all of the encaustic books out there, and too many of them are either vague when it comes to technique or focus mostly on the techniques of only one or two artists. This new book distinguishes itself by demonstrating the techniques of many well respected and accomplished artists, in addition to the techniques used by the author. As a textbook, it's clear, concise, easy-to-follow, and comprehensive. But it's more than just a textbook. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking to expand the repertoire of their artistic knowledge, those wishing to better understand encaustic, or even for those just looking for new direction in their art.

My one critique is that I think part of my journey as an artist has been learning my technique by trial and error. This book gives so much detail and so many technique options that I wonder if beginners won't be skipping part of the learning process. By using this book, they will likely skip many of the "mistakes" many artists make while trying to create new effects, "mistakes" that often lead down unexpected creative avenues.

That aside, I think the book is wonderful. You won't be sorry if you buy it.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, August 12, 2010

By 

Dianne Erickson (Jacksonville, Oregon) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Encaustic Art: The Complete Guide to Creating Fine Art with Wax (Paperback)

This book has it all, beautiful photos, great basic information, and the usual encaustic techniques but it goes much further. Using wax for sculpture, printmaking and much more. The quality of the book is really good too, nice paper and lots of great color photos. If you want to learn the basics, or expand your work in wax, I totally recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.