Starting from Friday 05.05 Galerie Jos Depypere will be opening a pop-up gallery in Ghent, Belgium. Our first exhibition will be dedicated to Dominique Samyn’s encaustic artworks. But first, let’s get to know the artist and her unique medium of art, namely hot and cold wax.
Dominique Samyn spent her entire life traveling around the world, studying, teaching, and painting. She resided in Santa Fe, New Mexico for 15 years, where she lived “off the grid” on a ranch in the middle of the desert.
Living off the grid as an artist in New Mexico can offer a unique and inspiring lifestyle, allowing individuals to connect with nature, live sustainably, and cultivate their artistic pursuits. New Mexico is known for its stunning natural landscapes, from the deserts to the mountains. Off-grid living generally refers to living in a self-sustaining manner, without relying on public utilities such as electricity, water, or gas.
Dominique draws her inspiration from the breathtaking scenery she observed from her studio back in New Mexico, USA.
Through her work, Samyn brings the beauty of nature to life, immersing viewers in the striking colors and textures of the landscape. Her passion for capturing its beauty is evident in every stroke of her brush.
Samyn's passion for capturing nature's beauty is evident in every stroke of her brush.
Hot wax painting, also known as encaustic painting, is a technique that involves melting beeswax and combining it with pigments to create a unique medium for painting. The painting process involves building up layers of wax, which can be fused together using heat, to create a textured and visually rich surface.
Today, only a few Belgian artists master the technique. of encaustic painting.
Encaustic painting has a long history dating back to ancient times, with examples of encaustic artwork found in Egyptian tombs and Roman ruins. Today, only a few Belgian artists master this technique.
Cold wax and oil painting is a technique that involves mixing cold wax medium with oil paint to create a unique medium for painting.
The cold wax and oil painting process typically involves building up layers of paint and wax, using various tools such as palette knives, brayers, and brushes.
The layers can be transparent or opaque, and the texture can range from smooth to heavily textured.
One of the unique features of cold wax and oil painting is its versatility. The medium can be used to create both abstract and representational art, and the range of techniques and effects that can be achieved is vast.
Samyn’s love for nature extends beyond the New Mexico landscape that she captures in her artwork. Her studio view provides her with a constant source of inspiration, as she observes the various animals that inhabit the area.
One of the unique features of cold wax and oil painting is its versatility
In 2021, after spending 15 years “off the grid” in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dominique Samyn decided to gradually move back to Belgium and found a new studio in Komen, Belgium.
Despite the change in surroundings, she continues to draw inspiration from the beauty of nature in her new environment.
Discover the unique technique of wax and the wonderful world of Samyn at our pop-up in Ghent from 05.05 until 28.05.
The opening night will take place on Thursday 04.05 from 19:00 until 23:00 in the presence of the artist.
The pop-up gallery will be open from Thursday until Sunday.
Address: Hoornstraat 11, Ghent (side street of Veldstraat).
