FRENCH NOTEBOOK
Statement
In the encaustic series French Notebook (Cahiers d’Ecriture), I use fragments of 18th and 19th century French papers and student handwriting notebooks as a starting point. As I work with these papers in my studio, I imagine the lives of the people who wrote on them or let the words suggest an image, and take this as an entry point into the work. I then incorporate the papers into paintings with layers of molten beeswax and resin, which I rework with a variety of tools to achieve a textured and richly luminous surface.
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_FrenchNotebook_Encaustic_14x66_web1024.jpg)
French Notebook / Encaustic on panel, 6 panels, 11 x 14 in each 2009
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2008_FrenchNotebook-Ananas_Encaustic_14x11in_web1024.jpg)
Ananas / Encaustic on panel, 14 x 11 in, 2008
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2008_FrenchNotebook-Cocon_Encaustic_10x8in_web1024.jpg)
Cocon / Encaustic on panel, 10 x 8 in, 2008
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2008_FrenchNotebook-Racine_Encaustic_8x8in_web1024.jpg)
Racine / Encaustic on panel, 8 x 8 in, 2008
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2008_FrenchNotebook-LamourDesPlaisirs_Encaustic_8x10in_web1024.jpg)
Lamour Des Plaisirs / Encaustic on panel, 8 x 10 in, 2008
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2009_FrenchNotebook2_Encaustic_14x11in_web1024.jpg)
Les Poissons / Encaustic on panel, 14 x 11 in, 2009
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2009_FrenchNotebook5_Encaustic_14x11in_web1024.jpg)
Semer / Encaustic on panel, 14 x 11 in, 2009
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2009_FrenchNotebook_Encaustic_14x11in_web1024.jpg)
Les Fleurs / Encaustic on panel, 14 x 11 in, 2009
![](https://annholsberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Holsberry_2009_FrenchNotebook-SecretSeal_Encaustic_14x11in_web1024.jpg)