Contemporary artist, Sylvia Torres, paints in encaustic, the ancient and beautiful medium of pigment in a wax and resin base. Used by the Greeks over 2000 years ago, encaustic predates all other painting mediums. The literal translation of encaustic is to burn in, as each layer must be fused with heat to the layer beneath. Until recently encaustic was little more than a footnote in history due to the tedious fusing process, but has returned from obscurity as modern tools have made the encaustic process more practical.

Torres' paintings are resplendent in sensuous beauty. She adds layer upon layer of paint, then works reductively; incising, carving and scraping to reveal layers beneath, sometimes adding collage or metallic leaf. She fuses each layer with a torch or heat gun. The result is brilliant luminosity, a rich delicate opalescence.

Encaustic uses no solvents, is impervious to moisture and need not be varnished or put under glass.
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