SALT STUDIES: ENCAUSTIC

My Salt Study paintings are an outgrowth of the Periphery Project. As my weekly walks took me to the Southern portion of the bay, the salinity levels rose and I began noticing salt crusts along the shore and bright colors in the water: pink, magenta, orange, and yellow. The high salt levels encourage the growth of various strains of harmless salt-loving bacteria of the order Haloarchea, which give the waters their vivid hue. These colors are plainly seen from the air, coming and going from SFO or by satellites. These paintings reflect the warm colors of the salty waters and use geometric patterns to suggest their mineral structures and qualities.