my story
“My work is all about process: the action of slowly adding thin layers of melted wax and pigment to a wood surface. I love the physicality of the process and my paintings are not as much “painted” as they are built. The work develops by application of melted wax, fusing with fire, scraping away and repeating. Slowly, the paintings emerge, leaving behind a history of colors and marks made a long the way”
-Christy Branson, Artist
Growing up in a small family with working parents that moved a lot, I was often left to my own devises. Luckily, even at an early age I had an amazing capacity for creativity that has always been my constant companion. Determined to work my way through college I studied and explored fine arts. I excelled in painting, although pottery and sculpting were also of great interest to me. It wasn’t until years later, that I learned what encaustics were and fell in love with the medium. I knew I had to paint in wax.
In 2013, by accident, I witnessed and artist melting chunks of beeswax with a strange tree resin. I was immediately transfixed and knew that this is what I had to do. Ferociously learning everything that I could about this ancient art form, very naturally made everything in my creative life fall into place. Setting up an encaustic studio quickly followed. For me, the medium lends itself to what I have to say in a way that no other art form is able to do. Abstract landscapes tend to emerge frequently in my work, as well as shifts in color and mood that coincide with the seasons. Being able to apply thin layers of wax, mark making and pigment allows for me to create an atmospheric quality to my paintings that draw the viewer into the luscious surface of the wax, only to discover a peaceful world that lies beneath.
Today, I continue expanding the process by employing original techniques and developing new ways of expressing myself through wax.
Exhibitions:
Facets: Spokane, WA: Solo Exhibition 2022
AAF London, UK: Selected Works, Group Show 2021
Kaleidoscope: Spokane, WA: Solo Exhibition 2021
Grey Cube Gallery: Landscapes Online Group Exhibition, 2020
Las Laguna Gallery: Laguna Beach, CA: Group Botanical Exhibition 2020
Quarantined: Encaustic Art at a Social Distance: Online Sold-Out Solo Exhibition 2020 (Pivot from Cancelled Show)
Evolutions in Fire & Wax: Spokane, WA : Solo Exhibition 2019
MAC- Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture: Curated Artist Studio Tour 2018
The Other Art Fair, Chicago: Curated Exhibition September 2018
Marmot Art Space & Gallery: Spokane, WA: Featured Artist Sept 2018
Jundt Art Museum Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA.: Inland Northwest Juried Landscape Art Exhibition, 2018
Spokane Arts Benefit Show, Spokane, WA: Group Exhibition, Maryhill Winery 2018
Scratching the Surface: Spokane, WA: Solo Exhibition 2017
Blackwell Gallery: Coeur D’Alene, ID: Selected Works 2017
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Fine Art Gallery: Farmington, PN: Selected Works 2017
The Other Art Fair- Brooklyn, New York: Curated Show 2017
Encaustic Art Institute- Santa Fe, NM: Selected work for EAI’s permanent collection 2016
Making Your Mark, Santa Fe, NM: Int’l Encaustic Artists & Encaustic Art Institute, Juried Exhibition 2016
What Lies Beneath: Barrister Winery, Spokane: Solo Exhibition 2016