Kristen Daniels

As the progression of time turns the present into a memory, the panel and canvas serve as a diary.  My work pieces together a time and a place to reflect on the past and the present by combining the familiar and the unfamiliar. I often get so caught up in my daily life that I take for granted the surrounding beauty. I search for a calming balance; often, walking or hiking nearby trails and observing my environment will spark inspiration. With every movement , I anticipate the changing of seasons and the comfort brought through a predictable cycle of death and rebirth. The contemplation of this aspect is the beginning of my creative process as I seek to record my observations and emotions to retell my story.

Encaustic is a medium that dates back to 3000 B.C.; however, it has recently experienced a resurgence in popularity due to its simple and fluid expression of color. I was drawn to it because it is environmentally friendly and is resistant to mold, mildew, and dust. Works composed in this medium have proven to last indefinitely, and, conforming to nature, I use organic beeswax and dammar resin (a natural sap from pine trees) to create my encaustic medium.