If there’s one language that is truly universal – capable of speaking directly to every human mind and heart on a primal level – it’s art. Since the beginning of humanity itself, people have been using various forms of art to communicate with others, record events, and express deeply felt emotions that are difficult (or even impossible) to put into words. That said, it’s not difficult to see why the work of a skillful artist develops a value that extends far beyond dollars and cents.

Susan Fisher creates just such vivid and imaginative works of art. Specializing in the encaustic art form, Susan is currently one of Canada’s most successful and respected artists in the medium. She also passes on what she’s learned through her mastery of encaustic as a seasoned instructor in the technique. Step into Susan’s creative world for a unique and engaging experience sure to make an impression you’ll never forget…

What Is Encaustic Painting?

Encaustic painting – also sometimes called “hot wax art” – first hit the art scene back in the days of the ancient Greeks. It involves adding vibrant, pure-colored pigment or oil paints to heated beeswax and then applying the mixture to an existing surface such as canvas or wood. Hot wax art is unique in that the process allows for a high degree of flexibility and has few creative limits. Artists have enthusiastically embraced the qualities of luminosity, texture versatility, solidity and layering inherent with encaustic especially beeswax encaustic.

The Amazing Encaustic Art of Susan Fisher

Susan Fisher enjoys creating in encaustic because of the way it allows her to create rich layers of translucence and color that come together as a whole in a work saturated with depth, emotion, and life. It allows her to build truly vibrant worlds with heartbeats, identities, and emerging life forces all their own, mirroring the actual fluidity and tactile nature of the medium itself.

Susan delights in taking the creative process a step or two further on occasion as well. In addition to using traditional ancient encaustic techniques to create her pieces, she also incorporates elements of such media as printmaking, traditional drawing, and sculpture to create a result that is incredibly personal and truly one of a kind. Each piece of her incredible melting wax art represents a different moment – a fleeting emotion – frozen and preserved forever using one of the world’s oldest and most challenging media.

As composer and musical director Bill Crane once said, “everyone should own a Fisher”, and once you’ve taken a journey through Susan’s gallery, you’ll understand why.

Explore Susan’s World

Feel free to browse the art gallery section of this site and treat yourself to some stunning examples of Susan’s best work, or check the exhibition schedule for information on where you can see her amazing encaustic art in person.

Looking for more information on where and how you can learn the ancient art of encaustic from Susan herself through her creative art workshops? Visit the workshop section for a full rundown of prices, availability, and additional details.