Jackie (front)

Jackie (back)

Earth (front)

Earth (back)

Water (front)

Water (back)

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"Modern Icons"

This has been a labor intensive series for me. Many months of planning, research and work resulted in the seven completed icons. As in all my work the subject and message of the series sweep me up emotionally and physically. In a geometric space, I have included many sacred images and my impression of elements or myths personalized into actual women who society has made into icons of fame, beauty or power. I spent many days researching the ancient icons and the subject of the ones I would make. In the process I discovered a new way to handle the ancient technique of encaustic. This medium is from 5000 B.C. and it creates the most permanent color possible, since the pigments are held in the wax and resins.

I used encaustic as colored layers over other painted or gold or silver leafed surfaces. Each layer of the pigment infused wax is melted into the layer beneath and when cooled, I cut into them as one would carve an linoleum block. This gives me the textured surfaces which move slightly away from the background.

The depth of meaning that I put into this work has left me almost without words to describe. If people wish for me to explain the meaning in detail, I will; but, at this time I am looking forward to others' responses.

-- Ezshwan