A 100 Project that explores the interplay of handmade foraged inks, charcoal from a forest fire and encaustic.

In my 6th year in a row, this 2023 100 project is the next step in my exploration of living inks. I started making living inks, foraged from nature and found materials in 2022. Then in 2021, I completed a 100 project using ink made from charcoal created in forest fire. This next series of 100 puts that all together with my encaustic work to create these vibrant and expressive abstract works. The goal of the project was to see what methods worked, try out new inks, and to see the successful interplay of the materials that could be used in future works.

In general, the process went like this: I would make an ink painting, which often were wonderful on their own and sometimes it was hard to mar the work. Then I would use encaustic as a resist using brushes or mark making tools to create a pattern or abstract surface on wax on top. Once cool, I would take the forest fire charcoal ink and rub it into the surface of the painting. Anywhere there was no wax, the charcoal would soak into the painting obscuring the color beneath. Once dry, I would wipe away the excess charcoal to reveal the color beneath the wax in contrast with the dark charcoal elements. Sometimes I would leave the wax alone, other times I would scrape it smooth.