Peg Bachenheimer
My painting process involves discovery and a love of color and texture.
Since I don’t know what will emerge as I paint and I create many layers,
I see painting as an act of faith and determination.
I’m interested in places where things meet and merge and in what lies below the surface; in the mystery of sky meeting earth, gardens, trees or light on water flowing over rock; in places where the past is visible in the present like an old wall, strong feelings and memories. I want my paintings to convey a rich visual and tactile experience connected to feelings evoked by the mystery and beauty of life.
Sometimes I paint with oils over highly textured acrylic mediums and color on canvas. I like the luminous quality of the oil paint and the texture and color of the acrylic under painting.
I also work in the encaustic medium in which beeswax, damar resin and pigment are heated and applied to a wood panel. Each layer of wax is fused with the heat of a torch or heat gun, making it one with the previous layer. It’s possible to build up many layers of wax, oil paint, paper and other collage materials and also to scrape back and incise the surface. The fusing and scraping often lead to unexpected and unique discoveries. Encaustic paintings are very durable and the colors will stay vibrant and fresh since wax is impervious to moisture.
