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. You can explore my work at hollilevyart.com.
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.
Holli Levy
eMail: hollilevy@gmail.com Website: hollilevyart.com
Instagram: hollimlevy Facebook: holli.meryl.90
