COLOR INTERVIEW : artist Maggie Simonelli by CANNON-DUETH

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.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPayV9BAiN5/

A STUDIO VISIT with MAGGIE SIMONELLI

Take a tour with me in my art studio in New York City.
Come see my new artwork and hear about my inspirations.
Indigo from Kyoto, Japan, cinnabar, pale gold leaf, bee pollen and cosmetics come explore all the materials making up the paintings.

A Studio Visit with Maggie Simonelli
Directed by Billy Gerard Frank
Edited by Patrick McCarthy