Feathers and Wax
Early Registration Price
Only $37.00 $47.00
Class Opens March 3rd
If you’re drawn to the quiet beauty of birds, the delicate structure of feathers, and the magic of layered mixed media, this class is an invitation to slow down and explore that fascination more deeply.
Feathers & Wax is a gentle, expressive workshop that blends observation, mark-making, and encaustic wax into a series of soulful, nature-inspired studies and finished pieces.
Birds have long found their way into my studio through sketches, collected feathers, and symbolic imagery. This class grew from that ongoing conversation.
Together, we’ll begin with intimate feather studies, loosen up with dramatic charcoal and ink bird drawings, and finally move into the luminous world of encaustic wax, where feathers emerge through rich, dreamy layers.
This class is about capturing essence rather than perfection. It’s about texture, atmosphere, curiosity, and allowing the materials to guide you. Along the way, you’ll create meaningful artwork that can live beautifully in your space or be shared as heartfelt gifts.
Enjoy a process that feels both grounding and creatively energizing!
Early Registration Price
Only $37.00 $47.00
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
What You’ll Learn In Class…
Warmup Lesson: Feather Study
We begin with a quiet, observational warm-up inspired by one of nature’s most beautiful forms: the feather. In this lesson, you’ll slow down and study feathers up close—exploring their structure, shape, and variation while sketching with simple materials like pencil, charcoal, ink, or paint.
This gentle exercise invites patience and curiosity, helping you loosen your hand, sharpen your eye, and settle into a calm creative rhythm. We’ll also take a brief look at the graceful architecture of wings, using reference to guide our sketches and deepen our appreciation for this elegant natural design.
This lesson sets the tone for the class… observational, meditative, and rooted in presence rather than perfection.
Lesson One: Inky Birds
In this lesson, we shift into a bolder, more expressive approach using charcoal and ink to create dramatic bird imagery. You’ll explore loose mark-making, rich blacks, and flowing ink as you focus on capturing the essence and movement of a bird rather than fine detail or realism.
This playful process encourages freedom and intuition, allowing the materials to lead the way. Vintage paper adds beautiful depth and character, but watercolor paper works just as well. The result is a striking, high-contrast study that feels alive, emotional, and wonderfully expressive.
Lesson Two: Feathers and Wax
In this final lesson, we bring everything together as we explore the luminous, dreamy world of encaustic wax. You’ll learn how to safely work with this beautiful medium while creating a layered mixed media piece where feathers gently emerge from warm, glowing wax surfaces.
Using feathers, vintage papers, ribbon, lace, and subtle collage elements, you’ll build rich texture and atmosphere while allowing the wax to unify the composition. This process is both intuitive and deeply satisfying, offering a sense of flow, experimentation, and discovery as each layer reveals something unexpected.
Feathers and wax create a magical pairing, soft, organic, and symbolic of grace and movement. This lesson invites you to slow down, play, and immerse yourself in a process that feels both meditative and a little addictive, resulting in a striking artwork inspired by the quiet beauty of birds.
What we’ll cover in class, and more!
A study of feathers & wings
How to set up your encaustic wax
Feather & Wax Collages
Early Registration Price
Only $37.00 $47.00
{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }
SUPPLY LIST
Hake Brushes (or natural fiber brushes)*
Mini griddle or regular size griddle*
Wax paper*
Assorted Feathers* (2-5)
Disposable metal tin or small tin can (tuna tins work great)*
Clay tools for carving into wax
Collage materials* - assorted vintage papers/book pages, bird ephemera (I will provide some), scrapbook paper, magazine images etc.
3 rigid substrates canvas board or wood boards* (any size)
Gel Medium Matte or collage glue*
Assorted acrylic or craft paints*
Assorted brushes*
Palette*
Rags
Black ink* (make sure it’s waterproof)
Charcoal* (pencil or stick)
Assorted Stencils
Scissors*
Purchase The Entire Class…
Join Ivy inside her complete class, Flight and Feather. An encaustic/mixed-media workshop exploring the magic, grace and beauty of birds!
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