Michelle Carter

I love frog digits with their charming suction tips, the large, foreboding eyes that seem to draw you into their world, and those wide mouths that hint at a smirk—or perhaps a sly smile. Who knows? Frogs are the quiet kings of the pond, of any pond, reigning in understated majesty. Years ago, when I first ventured into encaustics, I began with student-grade watercolor or mixed-media paper. Curious about creating my own encaustic medium and paints, I soon discovered that while the store-bought brands were cost-prohibitive, crafting my own supplies came with its own hefty price tag. The silver lining, however, is control—control over pigment load and wax strength, both of which are crucial. Embracing the science behind the art (as one must), I learned that the quality of my results depended entirely on the quality of my ingredients. The pigment brand truly matters. It’s important not to overlook the science: maintaining a temperature between 185- and 205-degrees Fahrenheit is critical, w...

Asemic writing represents a unique artistic genre that combines text and visuals into a cohesive whole, allowing for varied subjective interpretations. This practice can be likened to free writing or writing done purely for its own value, rather than for the purpose of conveying verbal meaning. it denotes a condition of "lacking clear semantic significance" or "void of the smallest unit of meaning." Amazingly enough, this form of art is incredibly fun and maybe even a bit cathartic.  There is something freeing about putting pen to paper an allowing oneself to freely write without purpose or intention other than art for arts' sake. I love it when someone asks me..."What language is that?" I often begin my art pieces with asemic writing, a form of intuitive mark-making that helps me break free from the blank canvas staring back, demanding a grand masterpiece. This process is liberating and sets the tone for creativity to flow. Sometimes, I write on ri...