Category Archives: encaustic & collage

Triplicates

Part of me thinks I should not share unfinished work.  I am 100% not looking for criticism, help or anything in that realm.  I’m sharing because I thought it might be fun to explore the progression of my work for myself and for those who like that sort of thing.

If you saw my last post about this series, you will notice some changes.  I thought the stencil details were too busy and that I attribute to me getting into my head about what I think people would want (i.e. a nature inspired gallery) and what is authentic to me and my style.

I eliminated stems as well, and the little buds.  I reworked the paper collage items and added more colors.

I ordered more encaustic paints from dickblick.com.  I think they’ll be here Monday, if not sooner.  I really needed to incorporate more blues into my palette.  The original concept for these paintings was blue lotus flowers but I branched out into pink, yellow and white territory plus a few other more abstract choices.

I haven’t smoothed out any of the applications via a heat source.  I will re-carve the lines of the iconography eventually, add more color, do the more textured bits and finally, make decisions in the found object assemblage department.

I painted for six hours today.  When I am creating, it feels like the most important thing in the world.  I feel very impatient, like, I wish I had all the supplies I need right now.  But really, I just need fresh air and time to decompress in order to prepare for the next step.

Temporary Process Over Product Situation

It begins with thumbnail sketches.  Actually, it starts with a bit of research then sketches.

I then create stencils, prepare the hardboards with three coats of beeswax, carve the stencils into the wax…

add pretty papers…

and begin painting.  Once all the boards have first coats, I give them individual attention.

Finally, I add more collage components.

I’m taking a break right now because what usually happens is that I want to do everything right away instead of savoring the process.  Encaustic is not an instant gratification type thing.  And as much as I have the image of a finished product in my head, there are a lot of happy accidents that occur along the way.

What has already happened is the classic “I know what I don’t want” scenario.  The great thing about the wax is that it can be scraped off – chalk it up to a problem solving direction.

I love manufacturing a visual language that communicates my secrets and I  LOVE having the only key. <3

Upcoming!

I’m preparing for three art events.  On Sunday, October 19th, 2025, I will participate in an artisan day at the Neat Whiskey Bar, 6706 E. Seneca Turnpike Building B, Jamesville, New York 13078.  More details later but I believe it will be a noon – 6:00 PM thing.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harvest-festival-at-the-neat-whiskey-bar-tickets-1644595231609?aff=oddtdtcreator

Karen Tashkovski, ANGELIC, 2025, encaustic & collage, 4″ x 4″ painting mounted on 6″ x 6″ chalkboard (with stand)

I will bring my own table and set up smaller cash and carry items – I do take Paypal and Venmo.  I have a few weeks to figure out the details and I will let you know as soon as I can.  I might share my Christmasy stuff or I might just do all the small heart paintings.

I will be exhibiting one painting at Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, New York 13108.  They are having a member’s show November 1, 2025 – December 19, 2025 with a reception on Saturday, November 1, 2025, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.

I will also be exhibiting one painting at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (137 East Ave., Rochester, New York 14604).  They are having a member’s show too.  This will be December 5, 2025 – February 14, 2026 with a reception on Friday, December 5, 2025, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Currently, I’m prepping a new series of thirty-six paintings.  I placed three layers of wax on each hardboard (they are 8″ x 10″).  Later today or tomorrow I will carve the designs and eventually begin the rest of the encaustic process.  <3

 

Fan-Girl Gratitude

I appreciate everyone who attended the art talk/reception I had for Fan-Girl on Tuesday evening at the Fayetteville Free Library.  Thank you!  The exhibition continues until July 31, 2025.

It’s supposed to rain tomorrow – a perfect day to spend lounging on Stickley furniture in this beautiful library!

Fan-Girl @ FFL

Does it look like I was at the Fayetteville Free Library (300 Orchard Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066) for six hours installing this art exhibition?  The hard part was organizing the apparatus then deciding what to put where.  Of course, my desire to have these 8″ x 8″ encaustic paintings at the same height, same distance apart was the most challenging part.

I’ve installed many art shows in my life but this one is up there as one of my most satisfying triumphs.  It’s fan-tastic.

I am so pleased with the way everything looks.  I feel like I manifested a dream because it is such a perfect fit and placing seventy-two paintings in one place is no easy feat.  There are three sections:  the wall space that goes up the ramp and into the gorgeous community room filled with Stickley furniture, the space around the corner, which leads to the juvenile literature section and the stunning area around the fireplace.

There were not enough hooks to hang everything.  Luckily, I have these beautiful mission-style stands and was able to place the remaining paintings on top of the mantle, the book shelves, a piano and two tables.  The result is this homey atmosphere and by that I mean the paintings are very much at home with Stickley, as I am a mission oak kind of girl, as well as a Fan-Girl.

The show is called Fan-Girl.

I will do an artist talk on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 PM.  This exhibition will conclude at the end of July.  See their web-site for hours of operation.  The library will be closed on holidays and I think closed on Sundays during the summer.

All artwork is for sale.

 

East Syracuse Free Library & Me

I just installed my art show at the East Syracuse Free Library, 4990 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13057.

It is a combination of three different art series:  Echolalia (2005), Talisman (2008) and Arcadia (2025).

Echolalia is a series of cats frolicking in a geometric field – oil & collage.  The Talisman series is about love – oil & collage.  Arcadia is built on targets – encaustic & collage.

I love the way they look together.  They are colorful, which corresponds with the library’s summer reading program, “Color Your World”.

This show will remain on display through August 2025.  Please check their website for summer hours (they will not be open on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months).

One Left

Three of the four paintings I donated to the Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery have been sold.  It’s for their annual 6″ x 6″ fund drive.

The forth one is still available!  It’s number 208.

https://www.roco6x6.org/gallery/2025/208

ROCO 6 x 6 x Infinity

I took a road trip to the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (137 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14604) because today was the first day to peruse the annual 6 x 6 fundraiser.

Follow this link to reserve your favorites.  They are only $20 each, which is a bargain for my $75 heart paintings.  If you would like to reserve them, they are numbers 205, 206, 207 and 208.

See their website for more information including hours of operation.

ROCO 6 x 6

Karen Tashkovski, CHIP, 2025, encaustic & collage, 4″ x 4″ painting mounted on 6″ x 6″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, FULL HEART, 2025, encaustic & collage, 4″ x 4″ painting mounted on 6″ x 6″ chalkboard (with stand)

I’m sending these four paintings to the Rochester Contemporary Art Center for their annual 6 x 6  fundraiser.

The exhibition and sale begins in May 2025.

Rochester Contemporary Art Center,  137 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14604

Karen Tashkovski, CRISS CROSS, 2025, encaustic & collage, 4″ x 4″ painting mounted on 6″ x 6″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, BUTTERSCOTCH, 2025, encaustic & collage, 4″ x 4″ painting mounted on 6″ x 6″ chalkboard (with stand)

Arcadia 2

Karen Tashkovski, EVERYTHING, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, UTOPIA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, SPINNING, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)

Just completed another two dozen paintings.  This series is called Arcadia 2.  They are 5″ x 7″ encaustic & collage paintings mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard and placed on table easels.

Karen Tashkovski, PROMISE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, THE BEST MOMENT, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)

I purchased new encaustic paint in vibrant colors and experimented with adding them to my muted color palette.  I am loving this experiment.

Karen Tashkovski, RELEASE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, ENTRANCE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, HOLLYWOOD, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, ILLUMINATION, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, MEXICO, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, BLISSFULLY, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, WARMTH, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, TRAILS, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, FLORIDA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, LOTUS LAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, DREAMLAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, ENCHANTMENT, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, SHANGRI-LA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, WONDERLAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, VISUALIZATION, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, EUPHORIA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, JEWELS, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, JOY, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, FIRST OF ALL, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)