Elements of Nature — Solo Exhibition
Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto
November 15 to December 3, 2023
Artist Statement
In this exhibition, the four elements of nature (earth, water, air, and fire) are represented. This body of work is a testament to the beauty and harmony found in the natural world. It explores texture, colour, and form—guided by the sculptural qualities inherent in wax.
I’ve created works that are at once painting and sculpture—pushing the limits of the medium to create depth and dimension while using colour and patterning to emphasize the brushstrokes.
Encaustic is itself a natural medium; bees make the wax and damar resin is harvested from trees. Fire is part of the encaustic painting process. The encaustic vessels hold gifts of nature pocketed on walks.
Ruth Maude
Ruth Maude is a Canadian artist, instructor and blogger. Her work is in the permanent collection of The Museum of Encaustic Art (MoEA), NM, and in private collections in Canada and the United States. She paints with molten pigmented beeswax; this is an ancient medium called encaustic. Heat is used at every stage of the process to apply and fuse the medium. Ruth’s creative practice is one of exploration and play. The founder of the popular All Things Encaustic blog, she is constantly experimenting with a variety of encaustic materials, techniques and tools and sharing her discoveries with her readers.