The Process behind Encaustic Art, with Lisa Kairos

Have you ever seen encaustic art and found yourself drawn in? There is something about encaustic artwork that grabs the viewer in a way that is different from other techniques. My guest, Lisa Kairos is an accomplished encaustic artist who was kind enough to open up about her process. In our conversation, we also touch on the positive impact that motherhood has had on her development as an artist, why she loves to write, books that have helped her grow, and much more. I can’t wait for you to learn from Lisa’s refreshing perspective!
Exploring the positive impact of parenthood. Over the years as I’ve interviewed artists who are parents, I usually get a mixed bag of responses. While they’ve all said that they enjoy family life, there tends to be more of a focus on the challenges that parenting brings to the profession. When I broached this topic with Lisa Kairos, we kept the discussion on the positive impact that parenthood has had on her career. One particular aspect that Lisa honed in on was the fact that she is quicker to dive right into her creative flow since she has become a parent. She used to take her time and ease into the work at hand; now she jumps in with vigor!
Let your curiosity guide you. When was the last time you genuinely let your curiosity guide your creativity? Has your interest taken a back seat to some of the more goal driven aspects of your career? For Lisa Kiros, the two thankfully melded into one expression with her recent Periphery Project. Chasing her curiosity, Lisa began walking 400 miles of the San Francisco Bay Trail sketching and taking photos along the way. She started his project as a way to connect to the memory of her father who has passed away. It was fascinating to hear Lisa talk about this deeply personal and beautiful project, make sure to check out images from this series located at the end of this post.
Encaustic Art. Do you get the chance to view encaustic art very often? I found myself enamored with this technique as Lisa Kairos opened up about her studio time and how she creates her artwork. If you need a refresher, encaustic art is also known as hot wax painting and involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. Lisa Kairos has been working with the encaustic technique for the last 15 years. She works hard to embed layers of imagery into each layer of wax meaning that each painting has between 15 and 25 layers. As you can imagine, this particular method is not for the impatient or timid.
How writing can make you a better artist. Have you discovered different avenues and channels that deepen your abilities as an artist? Maybe for you, it's your rockclimbing hobby that enhances your creative process. Artist Lisa Kairos can trace a direct link between her growth as an artist and her growth as a writer. Learning from the likes of Anne Lamott and Ted Orland, Lisa says that she has learned more about the creative process from writers than her fellow artists. She has found so much encouragement and growth by reading these authors talk about the creative process in ways that few artists have. What can you learn from Lisa’s story? Do you have a similar outlet that enhances your artwork?
Outline of This Episode [1:10] I introduce my guest, Lisa Kairos. [2:45] What led Lisa to follow her desire to become an artist? [5:00] Lisa opens up about parenthood and how it has impacted her career. [9:45] The positive advantages that parenthood brings to Lisa’s art. [14:30] Allowing your curiosity to fuel creativity. [22:40] Why you need to be flexible when it comes to your artwork. [25:00] Dealing with disappointment. [28:45] Lisa talks about her process in the studio. [39:00] How writing has impacted Lisa’s artwork. [48:30] Lisa shares some book titles that have helped her grow. [51:30] The best work comes from not knowing. Resources Mentioned on this episode Lisa's website Bird by Bird Art and Fear The Art of Asking Connect With Antrese On Facebook On Pinterest On Instagram On Twitter