Hi, Thanks for visiting Blurred Lens Encaustics. From a young age, I have lived in and around the art community in the Pacific Northwest. From volunteering and participating in a large local fair until graduating with an art degree from the University of Washington. Art appreciation and participation was always a way of life. With an emphasis in photography my passion spread to graphic design as a method of stirring my creativity while being employed.

I was first introduced to encaustics at a wedding fair with my daughter. A photographer was using bees wax over her photographs. I just loved the illusionary perspective that the wax created. A few years later I took a class and was hooked! 

With encaustics, I get to use past art efforts to push me in creative ways I never expected. The process takes me from my original plan for a piece to something quite different sometimes as the wax moves and blends together. As I work with it, I find it challenging, a little intimidating, but also very satisfying.

I often burnish typography and photos that I turn into line drawings onto my pieces. I use pottery tools to dig out the layers to find abandoned colors below and create texture. Inks and oil sticks are used to blend and tone and give them richness and depth. I also use Gold Leaf from time to time to give the piece charm and elegance.

I love to be outside walking, biking, kayaking, skiing… and get my inspiration from the shapes, textures and colors of God's creation. The landscape is always changing - bringing new life and ideas.

Enjoy! - Mia

Where did the Name come from?

Blurred Lens Encaustics - The name originated because I'm very far sighted combined with a significant astigmatism. The pieces reflect my world when I'm not wearing glasses, where I find the world very beautiful with colors and shapes blurring together and the details smudged. I always thought it would be fun to be able to share how I see the world through my art...hence the name.

What is Encaustic?

The word encaustic comes from the Greek meaning to burn in and has been around for over 2000 years where the technique was used in Egypt. It is painting with hot bees wax that is mixed with demar resin and pigment. Each layer is fused to the layer below with a heat gun or blow torch.