Art was a means of communicating without speaking when I was young and painfully shy. Figurative elements have always found their way into my work, regardless of subject matter. I want the viewer to see how the lines and energy I use relate to humanity. How we are all connected through life’s cycle.
I choose to paint with encaustics – painting with layer upon pigmented layer of beeswax. The physicality of the process – carving, scraping, burning into the wax – allows me to release the energy inside of me, incorporating light and depth into my work. Digging deep into the wax mimics my intent to dig deep within a person to show who they really are.
I often paint Rubanesque women. Capturing the twist of a hip, the lovely line of a neck, frees me. My figures are real and truthful. Curves are celebrated. I paint moments, hoping the viewer embraces the beauty we all feel inside.
-sandra sedmak engel
