Luminous Landscapes in Cold Wax with Alisa Beck – G26050205
Painting by Alisa Beck. Reference photo used with permission from Jennifer Eifert.
Immerse yourself in the wonder of it all at Ghost Ranch, where the landscape itself is rich in history and layers. In this 5-day workshop, we will use oil paints and cold wax to capture the famous light and geographical wonders of the region.
For those new to the medium, Cold Wax is a dense, paste-like medium that mixes with oil paints to increase body, speed up drying time, and create a lush, matte finish. Unlike encaustic, it requires no heat. This unique consistency allows us to explore the surrounding high desert scenery in a new way, using tools to scratch back, reveal, and describe your emotional experience of the landscape.
Using color intuition, I will guide you to understand subtle temperature shifts in color mixing to capture depth and light. We will observe the environment to understand how prismatic color achieves a sense of time of day and a feeling of space. Using a variety of methods, we will learn how to excavate and reveal the history of your mark-making to explore true creative freedom.
Whether you are a traditional oil painter looking to loosen your style or an abstract artist seeking more depth, this workshop offers a fresh way to interpret the spirit of the Southwest. Join us to discover how the physical history of wax can translate the spiritual history of this iconic land.
Instructor
-
Alisa BeckAlisa Beck is a studio artist and educator based in Montgomery, Alabama, known for her dynamic approach to oil painting. With a background in architectural drafting and a BFA from Huntingdon College, Alisa teaches students how to balance structural composition with expressive freedom. Her work is characterized by the use of non-traditional tools—brayers, squeegees, and palette knives—to create art that is rich in texture and light.
Alisa’s teaching career is distinguished by her ability to demystify complex techniques. She has been recognized and sponsored by Winsor & Newton, Arches, and Liquitex to instruct on palette knife application and material usage. In addition to her role as a mentor, Alisa maintains an active exhibition schedule, including an exhibition in Paris and a solo exhibition at the Johnson Center for the Arts.