Encaustic on Wood Panel

2026

"Created using encaustic medium—beeswax combined with pigment—this work is painted onto wood panels to evoke the dynamic, ever-changing environment of active tide pools. The surface is built through layered applications of wax in varying shades of blue and white, each layer fused with heat to create depth and cohesion.

A torch is used to gently manipulate the wax, allowing it to open and separate into delicate, laced patterns. Within these formations, tiny clear windows emerge—revealing glimpses beneath the surface. These translucent pockets echo the experience of looking into tide pools, where foamy, circulating water forms a shifting veil over intricate, living worlds below.

The interplay between opacity and transparency becomes central to the piece. Areas of dense, milky wax contrast with moments of clarity, mimicking the way turbulent water both obscures and reveals. Light interacts with these layers, catching on the textured surface and moving through the clearer passages, creating a sense of depth and quiet motion.

This work reflects the tension between surface activity and hidden stillness—capturing the delicate balance of tide pools, where constant movement exists alongside small, contained ecosystems just beneath the water’s edge."

-Lisa Moriarty