Manhattan Nights
| John Vandebrooke - Encaustic Painting | |
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Manhattan Nights |
John Vandebrooke exhibits his lush encaustic paintings at Gallery North. Vandebrooke brings a wealth of life and artistic experiences to his current pursuit of experimenting with wax, dyes, tools, and paper. After years of building a career in the business sector, Vandebrooke was able to focus on his art full time after selling his business in 2000. “Since I was a teenager, I have created works of art using many diverse techniques, including metal enameling, painting with oils and acrylics, egg carving with a high-speed drill, silk painting, sand blasting on glass, and jewelry making. But it was not until that first piece of wax melted on an iron and touched the paper did I completely give in to the muse! |
| This experience caught me and spun me around 180 degrees, hence the name of my studio, Studio 180 Wax Art.” Vandebrooke teaches classes in encaustics from Bellingham to Arizona, including his Edmonds’ studio, using materials imported from the Netherlands. “I like approaching my art in an almost childlike state, wondering what will happen when melted wax is applied to a surface. I never begin with a preconceived idea. Encaustic painting is an intuitive, almost mystical experience for me,” Vandebrooke exclaims. The results of this process are magical. The pliable, loose wax moves around on the paper and produces astonishing images that suggest arid deserts, glowing sunsets, aquatic scenes, tropical flowers, or soaring birds. Initially the viewer is attracted by the extraordinary energy and movement of the image and then lingers to consider the possible, deeper meanings of the scene. | |
