I've got the most extraordinary artist to share with you today. I first found Charyl Weissbach on one of my very favorite sites, where Dr. Arun Shanbhag featured her work. I was so drawn in by the gorgeous colors, the way my eyes were drawn again and again to the trees surrounded by beauty. Looking at her paintings, I feel both peaceful and inspired.  I love her paintings, and hearing the backstory makes it even better.  I know you will love her paintings, as well.

I was lucky enough to talk with Charyl about her work, encausting painting, creating art, and more. Here's what she had to say...

WE: Please tell us about your art...

CW: I have come to appreciate that my painting capability is an enhanced form of drawing, a skill that I naturally gravitate toward and continue to explore and refine symbiotically with my evolution as an encaustic painter.  Through the use of abstraction, my paintings attempt to convey nature’s vastness and infinite variations of color, shape, and ethereal beauty.

It is my hope that these feelings, which have formed the basis of these encaustic paintings, will be in some way conveyed to those viewing them.

Encaustic Painting

The word Encaustic, from ancient Greece, means “to burn" or "to heat".  Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves the use of heated beeswax to which colored pigments and resin are added.  Each painted layer is fused to the previous layer in order to create a single melded piece that becomes the encaustic painting.

WE: How/when did you start becoming an artist?

CW: It seems that I was born an artist, beginning to draw at the age of 2, and eventually receiving formal training in my undergraduate studies.

WE:  What do you draw inspiration from?

CW: The inspiration for my recent work, entitled the Balsam Poplar Series, is a western balsam poplar tree located on the grounds of Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum. I have been observing and drawing this tree for two years. I consider it one of my best models, and I admire its grace and beauty.  I place it in imaginary landscapes within my encaustic paintings.

WE: Where are your favorite places to create art?

CW: My favorite place to create is my art studio, located in Boston’s South End.  I think of my studio as a laboratory, where my artistic “experiments” are performed.  A second favorite place to create new paintings is outdoors at various locations within and around Boston, in the plein air style.

WE: What do you enjoy creating most?

CW: I enjoy recreating nature, which I find endlessly fascinating and inspiring.

WE:  How can readers find and purchase your art?

CW: Readers can visit my website or they are welcome to see my art in person by stopping by at my art studio. They can also visit one of several art galleries that are currently exhibiting my work (list following article).

WE:  Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

CW: I believe that for most aspiring artists, continuing to draw directly from our surroundings is the most important thing an artist can do to develop their craft.

WE: Thanks so very much, Charyl. I just love your work - it is SO very beautiful. Thank you again!

For more information, please see:

www.charylweissbachfineart.com

REPRESENTATION

L'Attitude Gallery
211 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-927-4400
lattitudegallery.com

Laura Preshong
558 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02118
617-236-7660
laurapreshong.com

Nahcotta
110 Congress Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-433-1705
nahcotta.com

Hole in the Wall Studio works
1544 Roosevelt Trail
(Rte. 302)
Raymond, ME   04071
holeinthewallstudioworks.com

Amantea Gallery
190 Royal Palm Dr.
Marco Island, FL 34145
239-206-1940
amanteagallery.com

BOOKS

In Rooney, E. Ashley, 100 Artists of New England, Schiffer Publishing, 2011

All photos courtesy and copyrigh Charyl Weissbach.