Art Students League interview

An interview with Patricia Aaron

You previously taught at ASLD, what does it mean to return to teach here again?
It’s great to be back because I love teaching and have a lot of energy and ideas to share. ASLD is a great place and a huge asset to the community and artists. I enjoy working with every person in my class, everyone has time with me and everyone gets their questions answered.

Recently an instructor mentioned you were her inspiration to become an encaustic artist. Who or what helped launch you into your career as an artist?
That goes back, very early. Nature was my very first teacher. We lived in Ohio with 500 acres of woods behind our house. I spent so much time observing; taking in sounds, smells, the colors of the seasons. The starkness of winter and the lushness of summer. I still go back there to rejuvenate in a way I can’t do here. Those woods are like a long lost friend. You don’t understand the impact when it’s happening; it’s not until later in life it all starts coming together.

What advice would you give to someone just starting with encaustic?
I’ve worked in a lot of media and I’ve been working in wax for about 15 years. It’s like any media an artist would choose; if you want to hone your craft, you have to dig in. There are challenging days and you have to stick it out. Take off your wrist watch, be tenacious. Encaustic, in particular is a materials heavy commitment. Students should start off easy, using kitchen utensils. If you bite and really want to get into it, there’s a lot of equipment you can aquire. Sometimes the torch makes people a little nervous but if you respect that fear and respect the flame, you’ll be fine. Encaustic can be difficult in the beginning, with the heat and the unpredictability of the medium but when you decide it’s for you, it’s beautiful..

Your work has evolved over the years. Where do you go for inspiration to continue the evolution of your work?
I really enjoy gritty, rusty, falling-down places; industrial urban locations. I love rail yards and trains. Train cars are moving canvases. I love street art. Right now they are demolishing the old Gates Rubber building and the process is quite fascinating! When I find a location like this, I go with a camera and soak it in like a sponge. Then I’ll think about it and figure out the thread; what is going to pull this series together.