Elise Wagner

Collision Transit Study 3, abstract encaustic collagraph by Elise Wagner

2017

Elise Wagner painter, printmaker, and teacher, is a recent recipient of the Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant. Originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, Elise relocated to Portland, Oregon over 30 years ago. Her initial captivation with the geology, and the majestic beauty of the Pacific Northwest, lead her to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree at Portland State University. She studied geology, physics and environmental biology with the intention of weaving them into what would become the fabric of her work. Elise was also awarded a residency at Vermont Studio Center. Making the Pacific Northwest her home base has continually nurtured her lifelong creative pursuit of merging art with science. Artist Statement: My work is inspired by and evolves alongside new developments made in astronomy, physics and the environment. I approach each painting as if I am laying down a map to an unknown destination and have always been intrigued by how we define our sense of place by way of cartography and architecture. My aim is to translate visually through the use of color, line, texture and light." About the Process: Encaustic collagraph "monoprints" can be created using various mark making techniques such as dry point etching directly into the plate and through the wax texture making it possible to use the plate again and again (up to at many as 20 pulls) varying the colors for small editions. The plate can also be enhanced, changed or completely re-created after making one unique print from it, this would be considered a "monotype" (one type). Typical tools for building the encaustic collagraph plate are ceramic incising and scraping tools. Heated tools, such as a tacking iron and a heated wax writer are recommended. With this method, fusing the wax is optional and not necessary.