Her affinity with the age-old method of combining bees wax,
damar resin and pure colour pigments led her to being a finalist in the 2004 Goldwater Art Awards, and in the 2006 Waikato Contemporary New Zealand Art Awards. Amy says that encaustic painting has become such an all consuming obsession that she was compelled to quit her job as a chef at a popular Ponsonby delicatessen to paint full time. Amy was born in Wellington, grew up in Hawke's Bay, moved
to Sydney, travelled around Asia and then returned to New Zealand to have her first son. With her child in tow she then went back to Asia, Europe and Morocco. "Travelling with a child is easier than people think," Amy
assures. "It's amazing taking a child with you. People are excited and affectionate towards them and children have an amazing tolerance for bus rides." She now lives in Avondale with her two boys Zephyr, Luka
and partner Jeff, a prop maker in the film industry. Although her art (not to mention travelling trends) may
A WORD OF WARNING FROM AMY...
It is not recommended to try Encaustic painting without proper training and all the right equipment as it's very dangerous.
Encaustic painting is not the easiest art technique to pick up, which is probably why hardly anyone does it in New Zealand. In America you can buy pre-made encaustic wax sticks and melt them but here you have to buy the bees wax and the resin, which is in a crystal form and toxic to inhale. Grind the damar resin, melt the wax then combine and cook at a controlled temperature for about three hours. Strain it through layers of muslin a few times, then, using a charcoal filter mask, add the powdered pigments. This is highly toxic so you must have a means of extraction.
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appear compulsive, Amy explains that while she made a point not to record the original concept through sketch, every piece is entirely intentional. "I see what I want to paint before I start and spend the rest of the time trying to make it happen." Amy also has experience in painting, photography and all forms of printmaking, especially etching and lithography. www.warwickhenderson.co.nz
