Amy Melchior - Full Bloom

Amy Melchior presents 'Full Bloom' an exhibition of contemporary encaustic works.

After spending two years on her Ripe Deli cookbooks (both writing and designing) and other upcoming Ripe projects, ‘Full Bloom’ has been a haven of creativity for her to return to. Being in the studio without distraction has offered Melchior a space to experiment with her materials and skills to the fullest.

Amy primarily works in ‘Encaustic’ - an ancient process of infusing pure pigments in beeswax. Finding this medium fascinating, her love for encaustic can be linked with her passion for cooking. The similarities between the two skills, such as attention to temperature and measurement, paired with hands-on care and affection, gives Amy the opportunity to experiment fluidly between these two visceral mediums.

Amy sources the beeswax from her uncle’s beehives and layers the wax like a cake, using heat to draw deeper pigments up to the surface. “In the moment when the surface is made liquid again I can bring images through from layers beneath, making them float towards me.” This fluid chemical process is then contrasted by fine details etched in over the top such as cross-hatching. “I like to etch and scribe fine detail into the surface to draw out aspects of the image.

There are many new and constantly evolving possibilities of form that appear as I manipulate the wax.” The finished result in her artwork is a luminescent surface, presenting a thick transparent material which engages the senses with sweet scents to accompany a visual feast.

Amy’s new collection is titled appropriately as we move into the longer and warmer days of spring. ‘Full Bloom’ refers to the floral like shapes of her pigmented wax markings. The droplets caught in static dried wax seem to capture fields of flowers opening up in mid-bloom. This quality of aesthetic conveys Melchior’s fascination with nature and movement.

Set onto circular boards, the thick glass-like artworks draw the viewer in with a crystal-ball like seduction. The surfaces of the works are glossy and immaculate, while the edgings of each piece offers a look into the artistic process. The layers of pigments ripple next to one another around the sides, ultimately uniting process and presentation together beautifully.

Come and see this fresh new collection by Amy Melchior, open until November 9th.