R&F Handmade Paints

Our Encaustic Workshops give participants a thorough knowledge of the encaustic medium and method - from the classical to the wildly experimental.  Artists with backgrounds in almost any medium will find these workshops an exciting opportunity to expand their visual vocabulary with wax. The dynamic created by this diverse mix of artists contributes to the learning experience and to the discovery of new techniques and applications. Class size is limited to between 8 to 12 participants to ensure productive workshop sessions.  Regularly scheduled demonstrations leave plenty of time for hands-on-experience.

The Encaustic Workshops vary in length from 3-5 days.  These workshops cover basic encaustic core information including safety, supports, equipment and fundamental techniques of painting and fusing.  Demonstrations cover:  image layering, image transfer, combining oil and wax, glazing and scraping, scribing, collage, assemblage, casting, carving, texture, relief, modeling, and working 3-dimensionally.  Workshop include a digital presentation with examples of historical and contemporary work in encaustic showcasing cutting edge work in encaustic.

We run these workshops regularly throughout the year both at our factory store in Kingston, NY and throughout the United States in New York City, San Francisco, Texas, Atlanta, and Chicago.

We are always looking to expand our program to bring encaustic closer to the homes of our customers.  If you know any spaces that would be a good fit for our workshops, please feel free to contact us for details about costs and set-up requirements.

Pigment Sticks have revolutionized traditional approaches to oil painting technique.  The immediacy of working with Pigment Sticks leads some to believe that oil stick technique is self evident.  Yet, when considering the many mark-making, tonal effects, and gestural possibilities that are unique to working with Pigment Sticks, it becomes more apparent that there is much more to explore.  For this reason, we are now holding workshops on Pigment Stick technique.

Already many drawing marathons have utilized the versatility of Pigment Sticks, and Pigment Sticks are widely used in printmaking center and studios for monotype.

Through this and many other uses, artists are discovering how the unique qualities of Pigment Sticks are greatly enriching the vocabulary of oil painting and printmaking.

Mixed Media Workshops are collaborative workshop with other art organization that emphasize the interdisciplinary potential of encaustic.  Because encaustic is such a wonderfully integrative medium, the collaborative possibilities  are endless.  These workshops have been an overwhelming success and we are constantly working to expand them to include other disciplines.

R&F currently runs Mixed Media Workshops with organizations such as The Women’s Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY, The Center for Photography at Woodstock, NY, The Art Association of Jackson Hole, WY, and Spiro Arts in Utah.

Our Mixed Media Workshops include Photography and Encaustic, Printmaking and Encaustic, and Papermaking and Encaustic.

We look towards the future to adding classes in bookarts, foundry work, ceramics, installation, and more...

If you are interested in co-hosting a Mixed Media worskhop or know of places that could work with us to develop a program, please feel free to contact us.

Our Advanced Workshops are intended for experienced artists who have a good grasp of the basic techniques, but could benefit from the expertise, immersion, and community of a focused seminar.

These workshops cover formats such as:

• Get Real, representational painting in encaustic.
• Teaching Encaustic, learning to teach as an independent instructor or introducing encaustic into your classroom.
• Ahead of the Buzz. a juried session where participants get to work with other artists, as well as curators, art critics, and art historians.  This class culimates in an exhibit of participant work at the Gallery at R&F.
• Encaustic Retreat, an open session where participants get to work on project-specific work.  These workshops are intended to allow participants to bounce ideas off one another, make connections with other artists in the field, and have full access to R&F’s studios.  The instructor on hand is a moderator to help guide the participants through their projects.

These workshops are a great opportunity for artists to advance their technique and connect with other artists.

R&F is hosting a series of 2-day workshop with instructors that are experts in their field.  These classes are intended for advanced artist that want to learn the secrets of a specific encaustic technique.  Working with artists from around the country participants can get from these experts what they can’t get anywhere else, adding to their toolbox of knowledge.

Workshops in this series include:

• Monotype and Beyond with Paula Roland
• Breaking the Rules:  Mixed Media with Russell Thurston
• Beyond 2D: Into the 3rd Dimension with Kim Bernard

New for 2010, R&F is offering a number of one-day intensive workshops in both Encaustic and Pigment Stick methods . These super-concentrates are designed for artists who want to focus their attention on one specific practice, approach or technique. One Day Intensives are held at the R&F workshop facility, and run from noon until 4pm. Topics include: Trace Monotype and Pigment Stick, Taking A Dip In Encaustic, Pouring Encaustic, Pigment Stick and Collage, Encaustic and Collage, Pouring Encaustic, Intro to Carving and Casting with Encaustic, Trace Monotype and Pigment Stick, and Image Transfer and Encaustic.

Encaustic Mini Workshops are designed to give artists a brief introduction to the encaustic process.  A one hour demonstration is followed independent work time, giving participants a chance to experiment with the paint and tools.

Mini Workshops are in no way comprehensive.  They are ideal for artists who are, curious about encaustic and want to dabble with it before deciding which longer workshop best suits them, have worked with encaustic before and desire a refresher course, have taken a longer worskhops but need more experimental work time.

Pigment Stick Mini Workshops are designed to introduce artists to the many possible applications of oil sticks.  The class will consist of a one hour demonstration.  Independent work time will include a scheduled model session.  Artists can feel free to bring any props they woudl like incorporated into poses.

Artist who are looking for in-depth individualized instruction can arrange for a Private Workshop at our Kingston facility.

Our instructors can focus on the specific areas and techniques of greatest interest to you, technically assist you with your own project, and/or help you learn how to integrate encaustic or pigment stick technique into your own curriculum or class.

Although it is possible to take a Private Workshop for introductory instruction, please bear in mind that you will be getting a tremendous amount of information in a very concentrated period of time.

Private Workshops are a great follow up to any of our workshops, allowing experienced artists a change to really focus on a specific process and get additional technical advice regarding their work.

If you are unable to come to us, we do have options for sending an R&F Staff Instructor to you or contating instructors in your area that might be able to accommodate you.

Contact us for more information on setting up a Private Workshop.

Many teachers request help to introduce encaustic and/or Pigment Stick technique into their classes.  If your school is within travel distance to Kingston, NY, you can bring your class to R&F for a demonstration and tour.  Students will have work time to experiment with the paints.

We are happy to schedule a visit to your school for either a demo or a comprehensive seminar.  We can send one of our staff teachers or an instructor closer to you.

Teachers can also arrange for group visits or sign up for one of our many workshops.  This enables us to show you as fully as possible, studio set-ups, safety measures, how the paints are manufactured and the variety of tools and techniques available.

If you are interested in any of the above classes, please contact us for details and costs.

For artists that have taken workshops and want more independent work time, do not have their own studio space, or want to spread out and have the use of all paints and tools, our workshop room is available for rent.

Please call in advanced to book a date or multiple dates to rent our space.  The cost is $15 per hour.  Rates for longer rental periods are also available.

For participants that have taken a workshop at R&F in Kingston, NY who want extra independent work time, extra studio rental days can be added at a reduced rate of $75 per day.  Instruction is not included, and lunch is not provided but the use of all equipment and paints is included.  Please book these extra days at the time you register for one of our workshops.