Today we’d like to introduce you to Josie Rodriguez.
Josie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Greek and Egyptian artists as far back as the 5th century BC practiced this ancient painting method. Encaustic is painting with molten beewax, tree resin, and pigment. What makes this medium wonderful to view and work with is the luminous, translucent effect. The word encaustic comes from the Greek, enkausticus which means to heat or burn.
There is heat at every level of the process. And just as the heat transforms the wax into a molten state used in encaustic painting, so too may be the transformative element between artist and viewer. Encaustic is seductive, messy, elemental, natural, organic, experimental, often unexpected and unplanned. That is what is most appealing to me–the surprise that comes from how the wax acts as it is heated with a torch or heat gun.
My one-of-a-kind work is both two dimensional and sculptural which shows the variety of this medium. Creativity in one form or another has been a strong influence in my life.
Even during my very busy life as a wife and mother, and intense professional life as a hospital and hospice spiritual counselor, I attempted to find meaning in the everyday by writing poetry and articles for professional journals. It was during that time that I realized the healing power of art, believing that art in many forms is universal in the ability to heal the spirit.
One of the joys of being an artist is mentoring and teaching others from my home studio in Mission Hills. I am so proud of students many of whom have become successful as artists themselves. As a working artist for the last 12 years, I have seen my work develop and grow where I have had my work in museums and galleries throughout the United States.
And one can’t forget the work of the honeybee that gives me the wax I use in my artwork. The entire fabric of honeybee society depends upon an innate ability toward communication, sending and receiving messages, encoding and decoding information. It is with this in mind that many of my pieces of art have been created.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and yet I am extremely grateful for the many opportunities which have come my way. But those opportunities came after years of practicing my art and working very hard to find my own creative voice. The colleagues who have supported me along the way have been priceless.
I struggled with competition, disappointment, lack of marketing skills, time constraints, discouragement, interruptions. But I was and still am very persistent and focused which has served me well.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a working artist who teaches encaustic painting to students from my home studio in Mission Hills, San Diego CA. I feel most proud of the mentoring I have done with students helping them to see and believe in their own creativity. Many students have gone on to become excellent artists with this interesting medium.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Certainly, my husband of 53 years has been my biggest supporter and advocate. Building me a special encaustic studio on our property, helping to shlep my artwork to and from shows, galleries, and museums and giving me good feedback has been invaluable.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.josierodriguez.com
- Email: josierod1@cox.net
Image Credit:
Josie Rodriguez, Al Rodriguez
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