Britt Hallowell - mixed media encaustic paintings are highly textural and usually focus on organic themes such as nature, animals and trees. She uses beeswax, damar resin (a natural tree sap that acts as a hardening agent), oil paint, India inks, collage, and antique found objects. Each layer is carefully applied and heated with a blowtorch to fuse the layers together. The results are multi-dimensional and can never be duplicated. “I love creating heavy textures because it allows me to create minimalist designs with bold contrasts that are simple and yet very intricate in their nature.” Her goal is to evoke positive emotions through use of imagery, color and tactile sensations. Britt tries to create art that is warm and inviting for the viewer. Britt is a self-taught artist. “I did not want to be taught someone else’s way to create. I’m not constricted by rules, but instead I’m able to try anything and everything and learn from my own successes and failures rather than someone else’s. Oftentimes it’s the mistakes that make something beautiful!” Britt lives in Columbus Ohio with her husband, daughter and dog. When not painting or exhibiting at art festivals, she loves to travel the world, decorate and drink a good glass of wine (or two...).
To View Britt’s Work Click: Here
Chad Kessler - The term “Self Taught” is a somewhat misleading one. We all learn, borrow and steal ideas from others and put the pieces together in a way that makes sense to us. I recently had a friend describe my work as “Aleatoric”. Aleatoric: adjective: ale·a·tor·ic | \ ˌā-lē-ə-ˈtȯr-ik , -ˈtär- \ Definition of aleatoric : characterized by chance or indeterminate elements. Aesthetics is always at the forefront and I’ve always been drawn to grit, decay and random beauty in the world. I love incorporating found objects but have no qualms finding an image online and manipulating it to fit what I’m after for a piece. Largely influenced by DIY skate, punk and street culture, my work bounces between having a direct message and something a little more vague, inviting the viewer to find their own story. As for the process itself, I almost exclusively work on wood panels I build myself. Starting with an abstract base of acrylic and spray paint, I’ll then build up layers through a combination of collage, image transfers, photography and found objects.
To View Chad’s Work Click: Here
