Heart of Water, #2
Maggie Simonelli Heart of Water #2 2021-22
Encaustic, 22 kt gold leaf, arctic blue metal leaf, aluminum leaf and pigments on birch panel 45 “ x 45” x 1 3/4” (private Commision)
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.
Thank you Intelligentsia Journal
Five Minutes with : Artist, Maggie Simonelli written by Christina Spearman
Thank you Provincetown Banner
WIND & GRASSES Art opening at gary marotta fine art g-1
ART OPENING : SARA NIGHTINGALE GALLERY Saturday, March 24th 6 - 8 pm GROUP ART exhibition Not Supported
WIND & GRASSES BEFORE & AFTER COPPER LEAF OXIDATION
Wind + Grasses Triptych 2017-8 by Maggie Simonelli
Encaustic, oxidizing copper leaf, 16 kt pale gold leaf, Japanese coral, Arabian malachite, bee pollen, cosmetics: CHANEL 204 Tisse Vendome eyeshadows and pigments on wood 20” x 30”
🌊 of ❤️ ON VIEW: SOFT SPOKEN •. Sara Nightingale Gallery •. SAG HARBOR • Thru Labor day
🌊 of ❤️ Sea of Love by Maggie Simonelli
'In the sea of love, I melt like salt, Faith, Doubt - they both dissolve. A star is opening in my heart, The worlds turn in it.’ ~ Rumi
Sea of Love from The Birth of Venus series by Maggie Simonelli
Encaustic (cosmetic grade beeswax), 16 kt pale gold leaf, pigments: Smalt glass blue, manganese blue, Japanese coral, Japanese Iwamomo pink glass, Chinese cinnabar, CHANEL96 Utopia eyeshadow, CHANEL 847 Envol eye shadow, acrylic underpainting, and sea water on birch panel 36” x 36” x 1 3/4”
🌊 of ❤️ ON VIEW: Window •. Sara Nightingale Gallery •. SAG HARBOR • EASTER
"In the sea of love, I melt like salt, Faith, Doubt - they both dissolve. A star is opening in my heart, The worlds turn in it." ~ Rumi
🌊 of ❤️ Sea of Love by Maggie Simonelli
Encaustic, 16 kt pale gold leaf, Japanese coral, Japanese Iwamomo pink glass, Chinese cinnabar, CHANEL 96 Utopia eyeshadow, CHANEL 847 Envol eye shadow, pigments, acrylic under painting, and sea water on birch panel 36” x 36” x 1 3/4”
