The Waterfall

At the foot of a waterfall, when rushing water drones out all competing sounds, a blissful silence can be found. There are no crickets or birds mightier than the noise of falling water.

Despite the intensity of rapid waters plunging off cliffs, there is a tranquil calmness. In my waterfall series, I explore the juxtaposition of the serene and ferocious nature of waterfalls.

Through the manipulation of the encaustic medium I create lace-like streams of water in these paintings to emulate the mist and spray of rushing water. It is my hope you can imagine feeling the water misting on your face as your eye wanders across the painting.

I capture the forcefulness of rushing water by scraping, dripping, splashing, and scoring the wax. The underpainting is essential in this series to create movement and depth. Green and blue colours poke out from behind the white water to emulate mossy rocks and protruding logs beneath the crashing water.

-Susan Wallis