Shary Bartlett

 
 

Shary Bartlett

Shary Bartlett
 

Shary Bartlett lives in Vancouver, Canada and teaches fine arts workshops both internationally, and at Capilano University, Langara College and Red Deer College. Her paintings are held in public and private collections in Canada and the US. Shary’s encaustic mixed media work and techniques are published in the books, Encaustic Art in the 21st Century and Encaustic Revelation. Her personally-curated encaustic wax pigments sets, created with Enkaustikos Paints,are sold internationally. Shary was nominated for the International Encaustic Artists’ La Vendeene Award for Teaching Excellence in Education.

Website: sharybartlett.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharyBartlettArtist

Instagram: @sharybartlett

Youtube: Encaustic Photo Alteration

Classes with Shary Bartlett

Flowing Light: Alcohol and Indian Inks on Encaustic

Explore the unparalleled fluidity, luminosity and vibrance of alcohol inks and Indian inks on encaustic. Join Shary to combine your creative inspiration with the capricious nature of these paints as they dance into unexpected shapes before your eyes. Experiment, and learn how to collaborate in flow with these paints, to create alchemical magic together!

Supplies:

  • 3 (or more) bottles coloured alcohol inks (any brand, Jacquard Products Pinata and Tim Holz Ranger inks  are two good-quality brands) 

  • Small bottle black Indian ink

  • Small inexpensive brush (round or flat, size 2-6)

  • Small bottle Isopropyl Alcohol (ideally 99% USP) - from your local pharmacy/chemist

  • Inexpensive dip calligraphy pen (with a rounded tip ideally – ie not a sharp tip), OR very fine brush, or fine tool (fine tipped skewer, dental tool, small stick, etc)

  • Smooth, white, wax-primed board (watch Shary’s mini-workshop on how to prepare this) 

  • Paper towel

Optional:

  • Pad of Yupo paper 

  • Straw, or can of compressed air for cleaning computers

  • Wax carving tools (for pottery, sharp tools, etc)

Note: This technique requires access to good ventilation and fire-safety precautions. (See PWF introduction videos)

Smooth: How to create glassy encaustic surfaces

Who doesn't love the textural effects of encaustic? But the perfectly smooth translucence of a glassy wax surface is a beautiful sight to behold - and challenging to achieve! Watch, as Shary demonstrates how a thin, painted or poured white surface on wood, creates an open invitation to fluid media like alcohol inks.  See how a slender layer of encaustic medium imparts a clear, dreamy magnificence to photographs.  Discover how to bury mixed media or 3D elements cleanly and invitingly in a milky bed of wax. Tips for achieving large smooth surfaces will be discussed. 

Supplies:

  • Small Wooden substrate – 8 x 10 or smaller – can be painted white with encaustic gesso or raw wood

  • Encaustic Wax medium (Clear)

  • Several sheets parchment paper (and stapler) OR large silicone pastry sheet (must be 3” larger than size of board

  • 8 Small clips, clothes pegs, or stationary bull clips

  • Heat gun

  • Level

  • Shims (for leveling surface)

  • Container larger size than substrate surface

  • Flat brush for painting wax (1-2 inches wide)

  • Painter’s tape (blue is best)

  • Sheet of paper (larger than board)

  • Clay loop tool or razor

  • Small empty can (tuna fish can or similar object) 

Optional:

  • White encaustic paint

 
 
Lee L