The transparent and sculptural nature of wax called to me when I wasn’t getting the effects I wanted in traditional painting media. I yearned for the ability to build up massive sculptural layers, inlay and carve in my paintings. They needed to be more than a flat surface. Without any instruction, I experimented with encaustic waxes and pigments. In the process, I discovered some interesting techniques. For example, in the tiles, I formed divisions made of tin and poured the wax over hardened pigmented wax clusters and ribbons. The transparency of the wax over the inlaid clusters and ribbons brought out the dimensionality in the work. I enjoy working in the medium but find that it often takes more space and preparation time than I have.