Shelley Jean
About Shelley
Shelley Jean is a contemporary abstract artist specializing in encaustic painting. With over 34 years of experience in the public and private education sectors, Shelley has dedicated her career to both teaching and creating. She holds a B.S. in Art Education from the University of South Florida and studied at the Florida School of The Arts.
Shelley is passionate about sharing her craft with others, offering in-person workshops, private mentoring, and online sessions. She is the founder and president of Florida Wax, a chapter of International Encaustic Artists, and a Core Artist for R&F Paints. Her popular Encaustic Art for the Soul retreats take her to creative destinations across the globe, including Asheville, North Carolina, Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, Hawthorne, Florida, and Tuscany, Italy.
In addition to her workshops, Shelley’s work has been widely exhibited and featured in Wax Fusion magazine. Her studio, Secret Place Studio, is located in Orlando, Florida, where she continues to explore the possibilities of encaustic art.
You can view Shelley’s work at:
Class Details
The Art of Teaching Encaustic Workshops
Unlock the secrets to running a successful encaustic workshop! Whether you're an experienced encaustic artist looking to share your knowledge or a workshop facilitator wanting to expand your offerings, this course provides the essential tools to create an engaging and educational experience for students of all levels.
We'll cover:
Choosing the right venue for your workshop
Must-have tools, equipment, and substrates for different techniques
A brief history of encaustic painting and its evolution
Essential safety practices for working with encaustic
Encaustic printmaking and other versatile approaches
Tips and tricks for troubleshooting common issues
Structuring your curriculum for beginners and advanced students
Strategies for creating an inspiring, well-paced, and successful learning experience for all different types of learning styles
Gain hands-on experience, expert guidance, and confidence in leading encaustic workshops that leave a lasting impact! Whether you’re teaching in a studio, community center, or museum, this course will help you craft an exceptional experience for your students.
Working with Wonderful White
Exploring History, Safety, and Complexities of White Pigments
White has long been considered the purest of colors, but in the world of art and pigments, the different variations of white—each with its own history, chemical composition, and application—are both fascinating and complex. The range of whites used by artists spans centuries, from the ancient world to modern techniques, and each pigment carries its own unique properties, safety considerations, and aesthetic qualities.
White is often seen as a blank slate, but in encaustic painting, it holds endless possibilities. In this mini workshop, we’ll explore the nuances of white—its variations, textures, and luminosity—through the unique properties of encaustic paint. From the opacities, subtle warmth and the soft transparencies you can achieve, we’ll uncover how different whites interact, layer, and transform in wax.
We’ll cover:
History and Safety of working with White: Understanding the complexities of varied white pigments
Opacity & Transparency: How different whites affect depth and light in encaustic layers.
Mixing & Special Effects: Creating luminous tints, veils, and subtle tonal shifts.
Custom Whites for Your Palette: Learn how to mix and modify whites with pigments, wax, and other additives to create your own signature shade of white.
Philosophy & Perception: Is white a color? Exploring its role in composition and emotion.
Whether you are drawn to the purity and simplicity of white or its complexity and depth, this workshop will expand your understanding of how to use it effectively in encaustic painting. Perfect for artists of all levels looking to push their work into new dimensions of light, texture, and contrast.