This series was inspired by my fascination with Koi fish, which are an ornamental version of the carp family, and the organic nature of lily pads.  

 

The domestication of Carp began in China around the 4th century while modern Japanese Koi are said to date back to early 19th century.  The arrival of Koi in Japan came as a gift from China to Japan.  Koi have spread worldwide since that first exchange between China and Japan. All the images for this series were taken on location at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  I envisioned this series as connecting Koi and lily pads with bees wax and damar resin, all of them being natural. 

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The Koi and lily pads morphed into a clouded ethereal experience in the aquatic environment by the application of the encaustic medium.  This created an undeniable depth in all of the pieces with additional detail in the round pieces extending to the permitter for an extra level of depth and interest.

 

It was important for me to find a balance in the creation of these works, to bridge the gap between the organic and manmade worlds of nature and photography. Enjoy.