Encaustic Altar Paintings

These new Encaustic Altar Paintings recently came to me as a idea when a friend visited from upstate New York. She came to my salon, Crown, to have her hair done, and to spend some time together. Her mother had just died, and I really wanted to take care of her. My friend left NYC last year, and has been living with her parents so that she and her father could take care of her mother who was suffering from dementia. I knew I could not lessen her grief, but I also know a good cut and color can lift someone in inexplicable ways. Part of my taking care of her was to make her a little painting, and I had found a package of small encaustic boards in my art supplies earlier. So, I heated up my encaustic paints and began to explore, until I came to a painting that I knew was for her. The next day, I gave her the painting and she was so happy and said, "I am going to put this on my altar!" She sparked this idea to make altar paintings, and I am pleased to introduce these.

Written by Alexis Wheeler and edited by Frances Beebe.

a cluster of paintings I am working on

November Offering Project

Here is the November Offering Project painting. For many of us, November has been a very emotional month between heartbreaking political news and the events that have been surrounding this outcome. My response to this was to do some encaustic painting, to create a work with a soothing feel. This painting is for sale with all proceeds being donated to charity, as with every work in the Offering Project . If you are interested in this painting, please make a donation, and stipulate which of the following charities will receive the donation: The Trevor Project, The Humane League or the Natural Resources Defense Council. Now is the most important time to support these groups and many others that are doing great work in our country.

Happy donating! -Alexis

Written by Alexis Wheeler and edited by Frances Beebe.

encaustic paint on wood board 12"x12"

October Offering Project

I am so excited to post the first painting in this year long project! This painting is for sale for donation, in which 100% of the proceeds will go to one of the following charities of your choice: The Trevor Project, The Humane League and the National Resources Defense Council.

Written by Alexis Wheeler and edited by Frances Beebe. 

acrylic paint on wood board 12"x12"

Running as spiritual practice

I just got turned on to the running episode of Krista Tippet's On Being. You can check it out here, onbeing.org . It was so inspiring to listen to what running means to all the people who were interviewed. I am trying to have a practice of being in my body more, moving more. Running comes and goes in my life, but it does always seem to come back. It can be hard and is something I really love. 

The Offering Project

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new venture today.

It is called The Offering Project.

The Offering Project will span the next 12 months with the unveiling of a new and original painting each month. The paintings will be in a 12 x 12" format, and will be for sale in the SHOP section of this site. I will be posting my progress along the way on Instagram.

The part of this I love the most is that - all proceeds go to charity (translation: I will donate 100% to your pick of 1 of these 3 charities: Trevor Project,  Humane League or the Natural Resources Defense Council.

What do I hope to achieve through this?

1. I create more art on a more consistent basis than ever before.

2. I get to share art with a wider audience. 

3. The money goes to great causes.

Please join me, and watch for the work coming out on the last day of each month. If you like it, donate, and it's yours!

Written by Alexis Wheeler and edited by Frances Beebe.

Supplies gathered!