Yesterday we went to Christine's Studio down in the funky industrial part of Portland next to the freight train tracks. She's been working in Encaustic and showed us how it is done...........with great patience..........layering and melting bees wax........careful not to heat it too high, which would release formaldehyde and other toxic fumes. Hard to believe that organic natural bees wax can also be lethal. (Further proof that artists live on the edge!) Think of this the next time you see an Art work with the word encaustic on the label. She said that in ancient times the artists used palette type knives heated on coals to soften the wax..




Just a word about Portland in case you're thinking of visiting or moving here. There is free public transportation throughout the business district including to some parts across the Willamette River so one can get around to at least to half of the interesting things without a car. My sister lives in an old Art Deco Building renovated fairly recently. It's appropriately named Jeanne Manor.

Tomorrow we leave for Denver. Will send off Michael Angelo's mother's Egg Plant recipe. Must run off now to next "experience".