Encaustic painting technique

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. - On Thursday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m., Laura Moriarty will come to Harriman Hall, Room 115, at Orange County Community College in Middletown to present a Master Class/Demonstration entitled Encaustic Painting Technique. Encaustic paints are wax based and produce vivid colors. It is a type of painting that dates back to ancient times - to the 5th century BC. The consistency of pigment sticks is like a soft lipstick, almost butter. With the aid of electricity, the paint is heated easily. Heating adds a new dimension because the paint can be moved and the image changed. The wax in encaustic makes this medium more versatile. Laura Moriarty, who is an encaustic painter and printmaker, will demonstrate how encaustic paints are applied directly to a surface from pigment sticks without the use of brushes. She is director of exhibitions and workshops at R & F Handmade Paints, Kingston, N.Y. The Master Class/Demonstration will afford attendees a close look at the many uses of encaustic and the technique involved in its application. Harriman Hall, which is universally accessible, is located at the corner of Wawayanda and East Conkling Avenues, in Middletown. This is a Lyceum event, which is free and open to the public, is made possible by Cultural Affairs. Call 845-341-4891 for more information, e-mail cultural@sunyorange.edu or visit www.sunyorange.edu/lyceum .