about helen hasenfeld:
photography and encaustics
As a photographer for many years, I have gotten overwhelmed with prints that I wanted to do something more with, but had not found a medium that spoke to me. One day I tried marrying a photograph with beeswax and damar resin, working with an ancient art called Encaustics. By the end of the day, I knew what I wanted to do next; embed my existing photographs into another art form by using this wax/resin mixture. I envisioned adding all sorts of ephemera into them, collaging several photographs together, working with photo transfers, adding miraculous texture, and whatever else might wander into my brain. This has stretched my imagination greatly, has provided a new way of seeing my work, and engaging with a wonderful new set of artists.
Each encaustic picture begins with a photograph or two (or 3 or 4) from my extensive collection. The end result may be a huge departure from what I began with. Other times, the photograph remains the starring feature. Who knows what will emerge! That's what I love about doing Encaustics. If you look through my Photography Galleries, you may find images and/or snippets that repeat in my encaustic work.
Photographic work:
Beverly Hills Public Library, Beverly Hills, CA
Gifts of Art, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Japan Living Arts: a series about remarkable people in Kyoto (series photographer) Kyoto, Japan
San Francisco
Selo-Shevel Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
American/Japanese Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Fowler Museum, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Institute for Collaborative Engagement, New York, N.Y.
Wells Bring Hope, Los Angeles. CA
The Trampled Rose, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Colorado Springs, CO
Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA
Onyx Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA
San Fernando Valley Art Alliance, Tarzana, CA
Private collections
Encaustic Art:
Santa Barbara Tennis Club: Santa Barbara, CA
WAV Gallery, Ventura, CA
Thousand Oaks Community Art Gallery: Thousand Oaks, CA
San Fernando Valley Arts Alliance: Tarzana, CA
Ventura Government Exhibit, Ventura, CA
Chaffee Community Museum, Ontario, CA
Juried Shows:
Buenaventura Gallery: Ventura, CA
La Gitana Gallery: San Fernando, CA
San Fernando Valley Arts Alliance: Tarzana, CA
Affiliations:
Los Angeles Center for Photography: Charter Member
WIPI
LAXWAXART
International Encaustic Association
Collage Artists of America
photography and encaustics
As a photographer for many years, I have gotten overwhelmed with prints that I wanted to do something more with, but had not found a medium that spoke to me. One day I tried marrying a photograph with beeswax and damar resin, working with an ancient art called Encaustics. By the end of the day, I knew what I wanted to do next; embed my existing photographs into another art form by using this wax/resin mixture. I envisioned adding all sorts of ephemera into them, collaging several photographs together, working with photo transfers, adding miraculous texture, and whatever else might wander into my brain. This has stretched my imagination greatly, has provided a new way of seeing my work, and engaging with a wonderful new set of artists.
Each encaustic picture begins with a photograph or two (or 3 or 4) from my extensive collection. The end result may be a huge departure from what I began with. Other times, the photograph remains the starring feature. Who knows what will emerge! That's what I love about doing Encaustics. If you look through my Photography Galleries, you may find images and/or snippets that repeat in my encaustic work.
Photographic work:
Beverly Hills Public Library, Beverly Hills, CA
Gifts of Art, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Japan Living Arts: a series about remarkable people in Kyoto (series photographer) Kyoto, Japan
San Francisco
Selo-Shevel Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
American/Japanese Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Fowler Museum, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Institute for Collaborative Engagement, New York, N.Y.
Wells Bring Hope, Los Angeles. CA
The Trampled Rose, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Colorado Springs, CO
Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA
Onyx Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA
San Fernando Valley Art Alliance, Tarzana, CA
Private collections
Encaustic Art:
Santa Barbara Tennis Club: Santa Barbara, CA
WAV Gallery, Ventura, CA
Thousand Oaks Community Art Gallery: Thousand Oaks, CA
San Fernando Valley Arts Alliance: Tarzana, CA
Ventura Government Exhibit, Ventura, CA
Chaffee Community Museum, Ontario, CA
Juried Shows:
Buenaventura Gallery: Ventura, CA
La Gitana Gallery: San Fernando, CA
San Fernando Valley Arts Alliance: Tarzana, CA
Affiliations:
Los Angeles Center for Photography: Charter Member
WIPI
LAXWAXART
International Encaustic Association
Collage Artists of America
