Storytelling through nonrepresentational forms and dynamic colors has been the focus of Stover’s intuitive abstracts. She approaches encaustic from a scientific angle as well as an artistic one, often experimenting with the optimum temperature to which the ingredients, including oil and pigment, are combined. The results are lively, organic forms that dance across the surface. Her paintings highlight perhaps the best feature of encaustics (which, sensually rich as it is, encaustic is also cumbersome, a reason it is still more special than common) capturing an instant. Her creations appear to capture the magical moment of a single gesture while still presenting a completely finished work.

 

Encaustic paintings date to the 5th century B.C. and involves fusing together numerous layers of molten beeswax, tree resin and pigments. Each layer of encaustic medium is applied and then fused to previous layer using a blow torch or heat gun – depending on the desired effect. The surface is then scraped, scratched or rubbed with oil paints or other mediums to create a myriad of effects. The diffused colors and heavy textures are the desired outcome of working with encaustic paint.