Holli Levy Artist’s Statement

Since childhood, I have been passionate about art, but for many years, only as an observer. I have been an artist for 7 years in Connecticut. I began by making  art journals using acrylic paint mixed media. These journal explorations allowed me to develop and hone my craft. While in Ashville, North Carolina in 2019, I visited an open studio where I found an artist working with encaustic paint and I was enthralled.  The wax medium moves and changes with applied heat as if it has a mind of its own. This unpredictability feeds my creative juices as my artwork reveals itself to me.  I begin with an idea and materials and I allow the process to unfold as a discovery. 

Over the years, my encaustic work has been featured in numerous juried and solo exhibitions, earning awards and recognition. I have taken classes both locally and internationally, and I’ve worked with a mentor to refine my artistic practice.

Much of my art is inspired by nature such as trees, flowers, and animals. When I’m not painting, I love hiking in the woods with my husband and dog, always carrying my camera to capture the peace, joy, and amazement I experience. I often incorporate these photographs as collage elements in my encaustic pieces, aiming to evoke those feelings. I also eco-dye papers with natural materials like leaves and plants, integrating them into my work.

Encaustic, meaning “to burn in” in Greek, consists of a blend of wax, damar resin, and pigment, which I melt on a hot palette before applying to birchwood panels. The magic happens as I reheat the layers to bond them together, often using a torch. This medium lends itself beautifully to collage, allowing my printed photographs to blend seamlessly into the encaustic.

My studio is my sanctuary. As I enter, I heat my palette and paints, filling the room with the warm aroma of beeswax, and my imagination begins to flow like the paint itself. When painting I lose myself in the experience.  For me, it's a meditative practice that brings a sense of peace and calm, much like the feeling I get when I wander through the woods. I can communicate feelings and ideas without a word.  There is nothing like the joy I get when creating something beautiful.

eMail: hollilevy@gmail.com

Instagram: hollimlevy

Facebook: holli.meryl.90