Karen Tashkovski, SPINNING, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, JOY, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, ENCHANTMENT, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Welcome to the new and improved versions of these paintings. I created them last year with the intention that they would be sold with a mission style table easel. I’m going to keep the easels to assist with future library art shows and/or to display my work if I ever have another opportunity for an indoor art sale like the one I participated in at that Jamesville, New York whiskey bar.
Karen Tashkovski, PROMISE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, UTOPIA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
They look so much better in these fabulous frames. I am in love with them! They are encaustic & collage targets, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard.
Karen Tashkovski, RELEASE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
I reworked some of them. I added gold enamel. I changed out collage materials. I used my fingers to smudge in metallic cold waxes.
I thought they were done before, but once they were in the frames, I felt like they could be elevated via these tweaks.
Karen Tashkovski, THE BEST MOMENT, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
The dream is to sell them as a group. Someone could install them on a wall as one giant piece or maybe they could place them on a long hallway wall in a business office.
Karen Tashkovski, ENTRANCE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
I think this is the vision I have for all of my artwork. I create series of paintings with the intention that they be introduced to the world together as a unit, as a presentation much like a fashion show reveals a seasonal collection of clothing. I love this idea, that an idea expands to however many paintings brings it to fruition.
It’s always at least a dozen paintings of the same dimensions. In this case, there are two dozen.
Karen Tashkovski, BLISSFULLY, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, EVERYTHING, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, LOTUS LAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, WONDERLAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, JEWELS, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, DREAMLAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, FLORIDA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, VISUALIZATION, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, EUPHORIA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, HOLLYWOOD, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, FIRST OF ALL, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, MEXICO, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, SHANGRI-LA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, WARMTH, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on. 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, TRAILS, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, ILLUMINATION, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, CROWNING GLORY, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, THE LUCKY ONE, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, COIN PRINCESS, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collage
While taking a course in encaustic painting at Syracuse University in 2012, I created these paintings. This week, I revisited them and decided to remove them from their larger chalkboard mounts to hardboard cradle mounts.
I also wanted these 9″ x 12″ paintings to reflect the devices I’d used in the 8″ x 8″ crown series I completed last month, adding embroidery floss, ribbon, more playing cards and checkers, as well as cold wax accents and enamel paint.
Karen Tashkovski, WEDDING CROWN, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, ROYAL GAMER, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collage
I love that these paintings have a luster that comes with age. Time allows the wax to strengthen and the result is a marvelous sheen that only needs a bit of gentle buffing.
There are eleven paintings here because the one I’d titled Modern Pharoah is MIA. In my attempt to locate it, I found other things and made a note to self to take a day and reorganize my art storage and material storage.
Will Modern Pharoah materialize so that I can resurrect it? (No coincidences)
Karen Tashkovski, VALENTINA, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, FOR JASPER, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, ORANGE JACK, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, QUEEN, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, NAVY KING, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, MONARCH, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collageKaren Tashkovski, MODERN PHAROAH, 2012/2026, 9” x 12”, encaustic & collage
Karen Tashkovski, COTTONWOOD, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, SYCAMORE, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboard
It was three below zero in Syracuse today. I did not visit my favorite trees on a hike – I draw the line at eleven degrees, thanks.
I spent the day completing my encaustic trees collection. These paintings are 6″ x 8″ encaustic & collage mounted on 11″ x 14″ chalkboard, and framed.
Karen Tashkovski, POPLAR, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, OAK, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboard
I added oil pastels, vintage stamps, keys, embroidery floss, checkers, cedar chips, ribbon, 1963 pennies and French bobbins – from France!
I am so in love with them. It is such a weird feeling – so happy to have completed them, proud of myself and the choices I made, but also sad that it is over.
I feel like I should expand the series. I created twenty-four of them, twenty-four different tree shapes. Do I make twenty-four more with twenty-four different shapes? Do I reuse the shapes and change the colors, as I did with the lotus collection? I don’t know yet.
Karen Tashkovski, HONEYLOCUST, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, MULBERRY, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboard
I don’t even have a plan for where I will exhibit them. I am scheduled to show at the East Syracuse Free Library this May through June, so, maybe there.
Karen Tashkovski, CHERRY, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, HEMLOCK, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboard
I am actually still waiting for a back order of frames (four are technically not framed – I just set them in a broken frame in order to photograph them). Once they get delivered, all the paintings will be stored away and I will vacuum and reclaim my living room floor, and my dining room table – until the next project presents itself. <3
Karen Tashkovski, APPLE, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, FIR, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, DOGWOOD, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, GUM, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, BERRY, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, WILLOW, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, SPRUCE, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, HICKORY, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, MAPLE, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, PINE, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, TAMARACK, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, CEDAR, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, ELM, 2016, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, CHESTNUT, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, BIRCH, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboardKaren Tashkovski, WALNUT, 2026, 6” x 8” encaustic & collage mounted on 11” x 14” chalkboard
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.
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
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.
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).
Karen Tashkovski, THE BEST MOMENT, 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)
Karen Tashkovski, JOY, 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, SPINNING, 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, 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, PROMISE, 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, BLISSFULLY, 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, TRAILS, 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, MEXICO, 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, ENTRANCE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
Karen Tashkovski, RELEASE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
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, ILLUMINATION, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard (with stand)
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)