Artist Statement
As a painter, my goal is to transcend mere visual representation to capture the essence of a moment immersed in nature. My work is an invitation to the viewer to experience not just the scene but the emotions it evokes—drawing inspiration from the resilience and interconnectedness found in wild landscapes. The pursuit of deeper understanding through my art fuels my creative journey.
The dramatic landscapes and ever-changing skies of the Pacific Northwest serve as a vital source of inspiration for my paintings. I employ encaustic techniques, utilizing layers of wax that imbue my works with a unique translucency and luminosity. This approach not only captures nature’s intricate beauty but also its untameable spirit. I wield a gas torch as one would a paintbrush, allowing fire and wax to recreate the powerful forces of nature, from carving ravines to etching stone and summoning the tumult of the ocean.
My artistic process is deeply meditative and contemplative, engaging with the elements in a dance of creation that reflects nature’s resilience. This practice affords me a profound connection to my work, reminding me of the capability within us all to shape our lives and influence our surroundings.
Artist Bio
Sara Hemmer’s work is an invitation to look beyond what you see and lean into what it evokes. Let yourself imagine through eons of time, the incredible forces and resilience it takes to carve a ravine or etch stone to create the tidepool you see today. And will be ever-so slightly different tomorrow. That energy and interconnectedness is what Sara finds so inspiring about wild landscapes.
To best convey her contemporary aesthetic, she prefers the centuries-old technique of encaustic – wielding a gas torch as one would a paintbrush, allowing fire and wax to recreate the powerful forces of nature. Multiple layers of molten wax, damar pine sap and organic pigments provide translucency and luminosity unmatched by other mediums. It’s an approach that not only captures nature’s intricate beauty, but its untamable spirit.
Sara’s color composition and clean aesthetic benefit from three decades as a professional designer. “This background grants me the freedom to approach my art intuitively, embracing the fluidity of working with fire and wax. Much like natural rhythms, there is a flow that takes over when working with variables of heat, air and wax.”
Sara’s longtime practice of embracing 'flow' has been nurtured through professional training and enriched by invaluable work experiences. “I learned so much from clients working on systems-level ecology and environmental protection. Information alone is rarely enough to motivate people. Facts must be the backbone, but I’m a true believer in engagement and real-world experiences to inspire the next generation of stewards.”
An experiential learner herself, Sara logs many miles of hiking, biking and paddling research to create each painting. She balances her time between energetic Portland and the serene shores of Gleneden Beach, with husband Dave, five grandchildren and ‘big boned’ cat, Thor. Her work is available at Pacific Artists' Gallery in Lincoln City, Oregon and currently exhibited at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center's "Cycles of Nature" in Newport, Oregon.
Morning meditations in the EncaustiCastle turret.
Trish Seggebruch and I in my EncaustiCastle studio-away-from-home.
Encaustic Care
Encaustic should be cared for as you would any fine art piece. Keep your painting out of direct sunlight and avoid extreme temperatures. Be mindful of encaustic edges, especially during transport and if your piece is unframed.
Encaustic is one of the most ancient and archival art forms. as evidenced by Fayum mummy portraits. Dating back 2,000 years, Greco-Romans living in Egypt painted these memorial tributes. Over 900 of these memorial portraits still exist, in remarkable quality.
As part of the curing process, encaustics can appear to lose shine or 'bloom' over time. This is completely natural, some even prefer the matte finish. To bring back the shine and luster, lightly rub the surface with a soft lint-free cloth (an eyeglasses cloth works well). Over time the surface retains its gloss as the wax medium continues to cure and harden for up to 1-3 years.