SPECIAL THANKS to CANNON-DUETH for this wondeful COLOR Interview and to SEPP LEAF PRODUCTS for the IG LOVE
Many thanks 💕 to Celine Cannon & Sarah Dueth of CANNON-DUETH at cannondueth.com
Maggie Simonelli is a Painter based in NY. She works in encaustic technique with beeswax, crushed pearls, seawater, cosmetics, minerals: cinnabar, lapis lazuli & 24kt gold leaf.
Maggie, can you tell us about encaustic technique and what attracted you to it?
I learned about encaustic technique in Panting Processes class, during my MFA studies at Pratt Institute. I became immediately enamored and wanted to learn everything about this beautiful technique and went on to study ancient art history and artworks: Faiyum mummy portraits as well. I developed my own technique with handmade paints, oxidizing copper leaf, opulence created by embedded metals, carving and finishing with eyeshadows, blush and lipstick (make-up). The material is so sensual to the touch, the translucent layers offer a feeling of looking into a memory or dreamlike space. I could carve into the surface and collage into the layers.
~Do you decide beforehand what materials will be used in the paintings or does this happen organically?
When I am working on a new series, I have a period of discovery & research, through books, and shopping for new colors for each new series. My favorite places to hunt for treasures are @kremerpigmentsnyc @pigment_tokyo Sepp Leaf, SEPHORA & CHANEL stores. I look into color history, and symbolism and create my own story. For example using specific materials like seawater, crushed pearls, rose oil, incense: sandalwood, seawater from Byblos, gold and Chanel IN LOVE blush & PASSION lipstick for Venus, in the Gifts of Venus series. The materials and colors can get quite elaborate. The size of panels is pre-planned and the actual paintings grow organically — I do thumbnail sketches to determine panel size relationships but that is the extent to planning out the look of the surface and the final painting.
~Maggie Simonelli received a BA, Connecticut College, Studio Art & MFA in Painting & MS in Art History, Pratt Institute.