Instructors
Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch
Creative Director & Founder of EncaustiCamp, Hearth&Horizon Instructor
For over three decades I've been deeply immersed in the world of art, with a profound passion for sharing the incredible journey of self-expression through encaustic. My artistic exploration has been a testament to the boundless opportunities this medium offers.
My connection with encaustic is unceasing. It constantly inspires me with the myriad materials and techniques it allows artists to explore. My abstract work is a reflection of this deep understanding of materiality and design, and I hope it invites viewers into a space of thoughtful contemplation.
Beyond my own artistic practice, I'm a dedicated educator and author, driven by a desire to empower artists worldwide to discover the creative possibilities of encaustic. There's nothing more rewarding than leading inspiring and immersive encaustic retreats and workshops across the globe. These experiences, for artists of all levels, are designed to be supportive and engaging environments where innovative techniques come to life.
I've poured my heart into contributing to the field of encaustic art, authoring influential books like Encaustic Workshop, Encaustic Mixed Media, and Encaustic Revelation, which I hope serve as essential guides for fellow artists.
In 2010, I founded EncaustiCamp, not just as a resource for learning, but as a vibrant network of encaustic artists that continues to gather yearly. This has cultivated my reputation for creating supportive and dynamic learning environments where artists feel truly encouraged to push their creative boundaries and explore the limitless potential of encaustic.
Through every retreat and workshop, I am committed to inspiring and empowering artists to discover the transformative power of encaustic, drawing upon my extensive experience and an unwavering commitment to this captivating medium.
Brenda Tassava Medina
Business Director, EncaustiCamp Hearth&Horizon Instructor
I’ve been a maker my entire life. From the days of sitting in church with my great-grandmother “Ma”, where she taught me to crochet, first with my fingers then with a needle at the age of 4; to spending the night (to seek sanctuary from my 3 younger brothers) with my aunt when I was a kindergartner. I can remember her teaching me the art of embroidery. I have grown up making, creating, and experimenting in many different mediums. Classically trained in drawing, oil painting and bookmaking, I always sought to incorporate more texture, more dimension, and more depth in the works I created. This journey of discovery brought me to encaustic wax which became the through-line for all my work, whether it is 2 or 3 dimensional.
Through it all, my entrepreneurial spirit has been my guide. It challenges me to take risks, both in business and with my art. In the past decade I have been inspired and blessed to work with artists to help them build their own strategic plans for personal and professional growth - a parlay from my experience as an author, trainer, consultant, and facilitator to small business owners.
Brenda Kauffmann
EncaustiCampHearth Intructor
I have loved letters for about as long as I can remember. I bought my first Speedball calligraphy set in the 4th grade. I dabbled with it in middle school, but then put down the pen until I was in my 40s. As an adult, I was delighted to see that what was defined as "calligraphy" (meaning beautiful handwriting) had changed. Yes, there are still formal stylings and people with perfect script. But these days, there is the freedom to play and explore and be more expressive with the written word. I am just a beginner in the world of calligraphic study. I do not have a disciplined practice that I adhere to. I'm rather haphazard and I imagine that my style would make some traditional lettering artists cringe. However, I have grown to love the way the written word makes me feel. Words have so much power. I love how just a bit of text can bring deeper meaning to what I create. Maybe it's the lyrics of a song or a poem or even an old address that can take you to another place or time. Maybe the words are hidden beneath layers of wax or collage and unseen to others. But you know they are there.
Whenever I see text in art, I am immediately drawn in. Text can be subtle and provide more texture than anything else. It can be a way to integrate elements of design like repetition, linear interest or even an expressive focal point. I love words so I tend to highlight them as the main event, but words also make fantastic back-up singers! I just love playing with letters and exploring their endless options.
Kelley Rice
EncaustiCampHorizon Intructor
I am a storyteller of memories. My love of nature, textiles and whimsical elements inspire my artwork, recalling childhood and capturing emotions of joy and grief — always, with a sprinkle of humor.
When I’m with my wax pallets and brushes, I feel connected to my true self.
The encaustic process is additive and subtractive which allows me to create ethereal layers of wax and texture. To me, it’s a metaphor for life – adding here and there and scraping away what isn’t necessary. Then adding more back in.
In 2020, I lost myself in sorrow and depression after multiple family tragedies. Over the past few years, painting has helped me regain my footing, enabling me to find brilliance in small details of nature and humor in the behavior of animals...one day at a time. It is a blessing to share this with others.
Kristina Trudell
EncaustiCampHearth Intructor
I grew up in a home where making things was a way of life. Summers were spent digging in the garden, and the rest of the year, our dining room transformed into a studio brimming with creativity. One day it might be quilting, the next stitching, knitting, pottery, painting, or even a sprawling jigsaw puzzle spread across the table.
Yet beneath all that creativity, there was an unspoken pressure for everything to be perfect - a weight that never sat quite right with me. Then I found collage and everything clicked.
Collage invites me to create without worrying about flawless outcomes. It lets me play, explore, rearrange, and follow my curiosity about colors and shapes - all while holding onto just enough control to feel satisfying. It’s like quilting with paper, piecing scraps together until it feels whole. It’s like solving a jigsaw puzzle, searching for that perfect piece to complete a space. And when I feel like adding a tactile touch, I even stitch parts of the collage together.
Nothing I make is perfect, and I love it that way. Embracing the beauty of wabi-sabi, I’ve found the freedom I craved all along - and it feels just right.
Kathryn Bevier
EncaustiCampHorizon Instructor
My artistic journey is deeply rooted in the world around me, whether I'm observing a sprawling farmland, a quiet wooded lot, or a cityscape. In every view, my creative drive is centered on finding balance—exploring how shapes and forms harmonize and how colors truly interact. More than just capturing a subject, my work is about expressing my experience of the moment, imbuing each piece with a sense of awareness, a distinct atmosphere, and a palpable presence. I want my art to evoke a feeling of groundedness and unity.
Color, to me, is the most profound and expressive element in art, capable of conveying emotion and defining space like nothing else. In my workshop at EncaustiCamp, we'll go beyond traditional theory to understand why certain colors call to you, revealing how your unique connections to the fundamental energies within directly influence your artistic inclinations. It's an opportunity to cultivate a truly personal aesthetic, allowing your art to become an even more powerful expression of who you are.