This workshop combines encaustic painting with printmaking by creating collagraph plates using wax to make the printable surface. The history, safe practices and techniques are covered. Participants experiment with inlaying and incising techniques to create texture and build their image on a re-useable Plexi-glass plate, which can then be inked using water based inks and printed on a printing press. The possibilities of using encaustic for texture with printmaking are limitless and combining these two artistic mediums is an exciting visual and artistic journey.

Binnie Birstein is an award winning artist printmaker who combines encaustic painting with printmaking and who has lectured and taught extensively in the art of encaustic medium at many regional schools and art centers. She has exhibited nationally in many prestigious exhibitions and invitationals, including “Women in Wax, a National Show of Encaustic Work” 2011, Art Center Sarasota. Her most recent solo shows include “a wrinkle in time” at ArtPlace Gallery in fall 2010 and “justbinnie” at Fairfield Arts Council in 2008. She also organized an exhibition by members of New England Wax at Fairfield Arts Council in 2010 and she is a presenter and instructor at the International Encaustic Conferences.