Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth

Image Size 24" x 12"

Encaustic

We have been having a severe drought here in Southern California for several years.  Last year, I think we had three days of rain and none of those storms produced any significant rainfall.  Our rainy season is usually from November through April and so far we've had a couple of storms and one of them was huge so we're heading in the right direction.  Experts say even if we get our normal amount of rain this year (about 13") it will take several years for our ground water to be replenished.

We are supposed to get a storm either tomorrow or Wednesday so this painting is my artistic rain dance.  So many times rain is promised by our local weather people and none materializes.  I hope we get a nice storm that gives us a good amount of water but no downpours that will cause flooding.  Do you think it will work?  I'm sure it will.

This is another encaustic painting.  Molten wax seems like the perfect medium for a painting named "Scorched Earth".  I also added shellac to the painting and set it on fire.  That created a little too much texture in the sky so I added layers to tone it down.  I'm really happy with the result.