Dana Brown

Studio painter Dana Brown works with encaustic, using beeswax and resin to create richly layered depictions of botanical subjects, vintage farm equipment, urban landscapes, railroad yards, and other mechanically complex forms. Employing tools traditionally designed for ceramists, Brown carves, fills, layers, and fuses the wax, building intricate surfaces that are then infused with pigment. The resulting works balance precision with atmosphere, inviting viewers to explore geometrically complex compositions rich in texture, depth, and detail.

Whether depicting the ordered complexity of industrial machinery or the quiet beauty of the natural world, Brown's paintings celebrate the relationship between craftsmanship, labor, and the passage of time. Her encaustic process mirrors the subjects she chooses—methodical, tactile, and deeply rooted in the satisfaction of making.

"My subjects are often tractors, machines and scenes from industrial sites or railroad yards. These subjects represent honest, tangible work to me. A day spent in rhythmic motion, whether working in a hay field or operating a machine, feels similar to how I spend my days. I feel a personal connection to the work in front of me, and I can look back at what I've accomplished while planning my next step for tomorrow. It's a clear path that is soothing, and I hope my paintings project that feeling." — Dana Brown