Hi, I'm Julia Fosson from Julia Fosson and Encaustic Art in the River Arts District, Hatchery Studios in Asheville, North Carolina. Today, I'm going to talk about the mountain series. This is a series that began when I first moved to Asheville, and it started because I didn't paint for a year.

Everybody kept asking me, "So, are you inspired by the mountains?" and I would politely say, "No," because I didn't think I was. I didn't want them to think that I was a landscape painter, so when I started painting, this was the first series that came out. They just appeared, and they're so beautiful.

What I do is, this is a different technique. I take a heat gun versus the blow torch. Every layer that I put on, I fuse it, but this way, for these series, I want the wax to blow. I want it to move, so I'm creating a landscape by air, by making the air move the wax, and I can push it to however I want it to go. I keep adding colors as I go along, and it got to all these stretches out to the end, or I can push it up, or I can push it down. I get these beautiful little landscapes that are almost surreal.
 
Then, what I do is I go to the Blue Ridge Parkway, not physically, but mentally, and I get all the Trail Head names, and I look at the photographs from the Trail Heads and I picture which ones should have those particular names. For instance, this one's called Green Stone Trail. This one is Green Nob Tower, and this one is Cross Rock.

I just think that they're so sweet and so gentile, but you want to be in these. You want to get closer and be a part of them, and I think that it just helps when you're here to actually see them up close and personal.

If you have any questions, please visit my website. Feel free to take a look at juliafosson.com. I'm also on social media. Check me out.

On Saturday, June 11, a group of Asheville businesses including me will donate a percentage of their proceeds to LGBTQ nonprofits to protest House Bill 2.
Businesses have elected to donate anywhere from 1% to 20% of Saturday’s proceeds to an LGBTQ nonprofit of their choice. Most businesses will donate to Equality NC or Campaign for Southern Equality, two major advocacy groups working to repeal HB2.

Just behind the house I am staying during my sabbatical, there is a huge bee colony. I have been watching them, a lot of bees 20 to 30 that will pass in flight most of the waking hours. The evening just before the sun sets is the best viewing as they are highlighted in the setting glow of the sun. I was told these bees have been here at least 2 plus years. How wonderful to know that nature has given them such a wonderful home.  
As I sit not physically engaged in painting these guys are feverishly working. It would so love to see inside that tree and taste the sweet honey. But knowing I never I shall "bee"content that they have been my entertainment these past months.

Love these guys climbing up my walls. I love the whimsical feel plus the colors are happy. When it comes to my walls I am pretty picky about what adorns them, as I am sure most of you are, so if you have my work hanging on your wall, thank you for inviting me in to your home. 

This sculpture is Ancizar Marin, I first came across his work at a restaurant in NYC, Rosa Mexicona. In there he has 100's of mini divers in different diving positions coming from a wall about 2 stories high with water. It's amazing.

My Muse today. I had a great lesson in greed and beauty. How do you stop picking them up especially when the next step gives you a different beauty and color pattern. Finally I said look up now as the madness would have continued. Plus there is tomorrow.

I just created this encaustic on panel, entitled "4Sun." It's now completed and delivered!

I would like to give a shout out to Woolworth Walk for all they do for the local artists in Woolworth Walk.  This has been such a great experience.  Everyone is so warm and excited when your work sells. I commend them on staying positive, energized and creative in sales.

THANK YOU WOOLWORTH.