Hold Candle Wax Drips

Hold Candle Wax Drips (Burned Christmas)

Holding a candle during Christmas Caroling one December inspired this piece. Rendering the feeling of impending heated pain, was the goal. Wax would drip from the puddle at the top of the candle,  down the sides onto the hands, fingers, palms, nuckles, whatever was not protected or moved. 

The viewer knows the pain is avoidable, that there are plenty of ways to hold that candle without experiencing the pain. BUT, if the wax does contact the skin, the pain is temporary.

Additionally, the principles of warm versus cool colors is used. The bright red flowing beads of wax illustrate how warm colors jump out from the page as those veins of wax are prominent. The cool, blue beads of wax dripping off the top are suspended in front of the warm glowing background. However, there is a science of color that tells us cool colors recede and warm colors raise up off the page. This science causes the blue beads of wax to flatten. The principles of warm versus cool colors is in conflict with the forms described in the illustration. In short, the red beads are very pronounced, the blue beads subdued. Now that’s hot!

– artist’s explanation

A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance. A candle can also provide heat, or be used as a method of keeping time. The candle can be used during the event of a power outage to provide light

A person who makes candles is traditionally known as a chandler. Various devices have been invented to hold candles, from simple tabletop candlesticks, also known as candle holders, to elaborate chandeliers.

For a candle to burn, a heat source (commonly a naked flame) is used to light the candle’s wick, which melts and vaporizes a small amount of fuel (the wax). Once vaporized, the fuel combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to ignite and form a constant flame. This flame provides sufficient heat to keep the candle burning via a self-sustaining chain of events: the heat of the flame melts the top of the mass of solid fuel; the liquefied fuel then moves upward through the wick via capillary action; the liquefied fuel finally vaporizes to burn within the candle’s flame.

As the solid fuel (wax) is melted and burned, the candle becomes shorter. Portions of the wick that are not emitting vaporized fuel are consumed in the flame. The incineration of the wick limits the exposed length of the wick, thus maintaining a constant burning temperature and rate of fuel consumption. Some wicks require regular trimming with scissors (or a specialized wick trimmer), usually to about one-quarter inch, to promote slower, steady burning, and also to prevent smoking. Special candle-scissors called “snuffers” were produced for this purpose in the 20th century and were often combined with an extinguisher. In modern candles, the wick is constructed so that it curves over as it burns. This ensures that the end of the wick gets oxygen and is then consumed by fire—a self-trimming wick.

-credit Wikipedia

18 x 24 Original(1984), Crayon, Prisma Color, Candle Wax and Markers  $1200
18 x 24 Print $120