Misako OBA

*I added Events in the menu on my website.

Autumn is a wonderful season to enjoy walking in and out of art galleries or museums for fresh perspectives, reading new or favorite books, hiking, picnicking, or fruit picking in nature — breathing in fresh air and taking in the beauty of God’s creation through all five senses.

I recently took a weekend trip to pick grapes by a lake near Mt. Fuji. Art in nature. Art by us humans. The combination of the two is invaluable.

As a mixed-media artist, I often work with encaustic, a medium made of natural beeswax and resin. Some artists and collectors even love the subtle scent of beeswax!

Did you know there’s a museum dedicated entirely to encaustic (hot wax) and cold wax art in the United States? My encaustic work is part of their permanent collection. While the permanent collection isn’t for sale, the museum hosts many exhibitions for visitors to enjoy — some works are also available for acquisition.

Encaustic/Wax Exhibition

The exhibition runs through November 2. “Global Warming is REAL” organized by EAI, features both hot wax and cold wax works by selected artists:

“Artists selected for this encaustic/wax exhibition were encouraged to draw inspiration from the urgent challenges posed by global warming. The artists highlight innovative efforts aimed at preserving our magnificent planet, shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.” — EAI

It was quite difficult for me to work in my studio this summer — with my heating palette and the ventilation, air conditioning hardly works! But I created many new works for this series. I’ll definitely need to plan to use a different medium in the hotter months. Recently, I’ve been intrigued by cold wax, although I haven’t decided to pursue it fully yet.
Cold wax in summer, hot wax in winter — just a thought! 

My Work in the Exhibition

My piece comes from the latest [How Can You Show Love…?] series (focused on climate change). You can see related works on my website under the Painting menu.

Artist Statement
I believe we are on Earth to love and be loved—to care for one another and our planet. I’ve been developing my ongoing climate-themed series “How Can You Show Love…?” since 2022. You will see new work at the exhibition. This body of work explores love, loss, and global warming, inspired by my personal experiences living and traveling around the world amid increasing climate disasters and extreme heat.

Each piece blends abstract data with both ancient and contemporary elements. The “Don’t Limit Love, Limit Warming – b” features bar graphs representing modeled global GHG emissions under various future scenarios, focusing on projections for 2030 — a reminder that what happens depends on the actions we take today.

I use all four sides of a cradled wood panel, applying the traditional Japanese Shou-Sugi-Ban technique — burning the surface to create a rich brown tone and enhance durability. The charred finish connects ancient craftsmanship to modern environmental concerns, echoing contemporary wildfires and symbolizing resilience.

The encaustic medium — sensitive to temperature — deepens the conceptual nature of the work, both visually and symbolically responding to heat.

The pieces are visual statement of awareness and compassion, connecting past and present, from creation stories to our current environmental reality. It’s a reminder of the sacredness of life and the planet — from Genesis to the future.

Ultimately, it’s about love: how we show it, protect it, and extend it to one another and to the Earth.

Wishing you a lovely and inspiring season with art and nature filled with inner peace and joy, no matter your circumstances.

Many people have asked me what encaustic is — I’ll be sharing more about this fascinating medium in my next post.

 Also, how just viewing art can enhance your well-being — from my research, and  something I’ve experienced personally as evidence!

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