Kim Ensch is a visual artist working in mixed media, using materials such as paper, fiber, found objects and mixed media along with beautiful color palettes to create one of a kind art. This new body of work expands to embrace the ancient practice of encaustic.

Kim has studied fine art drawing and painting at College for Creative Studies, Detroit, and Academy of Art University, San Francisco. She has received many awards and her work hangs in private and corporate collections. Kim teaches oil and acrylic painting at several local art centers in the southeastern Detroit area and at her studio in Van Buren Township.

Candace Law is a full time artist in the Detroit area. After receiving degrees and working in other fields, she earned a BFA in Architectural Illustration, but found herself drawn to fine art. Her current body of work focuses on encaustic (hot wax) and mixed media, especially incorporating found objects.

“Art for me is a means of communicating about our environment, our lives, sharing our experiences, and reflecting how they inform each other.” Her exhibits include several solo shows as well as numerous regional and national exhibitions—both invitational and juried competitions. Her work has appeared in Encaustic Arts magazine, as well as the Studio Visit publication, and is in a number of private collections, including at Detroit’s Historic Trinity Church. Candace teaches encaustic workshops and works from her studio in Berkley (MI).

Rosemary Lee has been a printmaker for many years. Her training at the College for Creative Studies was critical in setting her on the path of creativity by building a foundation of technical expertise in the field of printmaking.

In the past few years, she has added the study of encaustic. This provides a new art form to explore. The encaustic process is also an asset in providing an additional dimension to other printed images.

All her work builds on past experiences and artistic explorations. Many of her images are a combination of scavenged natural and man-made items. A supply of bits of prints and other detritus is kept on hand in the print shop. She will frequently tear down older prints and overprint them, use as chine-collé pieces or in a collage. Currently cold or hot wax adds additional interest.

Melissa Rian earned a BFA in Fibers/Printmaking in 2005, but did not pursue a career in art. Instead she went into Information Technology as a developer. In recent years, Melissa has returned to art and begun to focus on her development as an artist. She has moved away from printmaking and fibers into the areas of mixed media and encaustic painting.

Ruth Warnock is a mixed media artist living in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from The University of Toledo, followed by her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching from Michigan State University. Ruth taught Art for over forty years.

Ruth was the first Artist in Residence at Detroit’s Swords Into Ploughshares Gallery and Peace Center. She designed and facilitated workshops for children, senior citizens, and homeless adults. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and juried shows in Ohio and Michigan.