Encaustic + Image: A Hands-On Exploration
with Norah Levine
June 29 – July 3, 2026
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Tuition $2195.00
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Location and Materials Fee $395.00
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Standard Deposit $400.00
Course Description
This workshop is a hands-on, in-studio course with photographic artist Norah Levine that offers a focused exploration of encaustic materials and how they can interact with your photographic imagery. We spend time working with a range of surface techniques, from smooth finishes to more textured, sculptural approaches.
There are also opportunities for on-location photography at historic sites in Santa Fe, with guidance on capturing images that translate well into encaustic mixed-media work.
We look at using color mixing and transparency to build depth, and work with carving tools to scrape, shape, and refine your surfaces. Additional materials and how they can be integrated into the work are also part of the conversation. Norah provides the space to experiment with a process that encourages tactile and intuitive making.
By the end of the week, you have a clearer understanding of the versatility of encaustic, practical information for working safely with the materials, and a collection of new art pieces.
Additional Information
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
What You Should Know:
Working knowledge of digital workflow and manual mode on your digital SLR or mirrorless camera. Participants must be able to download and select images using image editing software for class sessions.
Special Notes:
No prior experience with encaustic is necessary. Materials required for participation are provided by Santa Fe Workshops.
Participants are encouraged to bring digital image files they are interested in printing and applying encaustic to. You also have the opportunity to create new imagery throughout the workshop. SFW staff will support participants in printing their imagery.
Activity Level:
Participants should be able to engage in moderate outdoor exercise for up to an hour or more at a time. Location work is likely to include early morning and/or late evening shoots.
Policies:
View Payment, Refund, Withdrawal, and Transfer Policies for domestic workshops.
Accommodations:
Participants are responsible for making their own housing arrangements in Santa Fe. On-campus accommodations are not currently available.
Meals:
about
Norah Levine is a fine artist based in Austin, Texas, known for her dreamlike paintings that fuse photography and encaustic. With over 15 years of experience as a portrait photographer and a foundation in traditional darkroom techniques, she brings a deep sensitivity to light, emotion, and narrative. When digital photography became the norm, Norah felt a longing to return to the tactile, meditative experience that first shaped her in the darkroom—a place where the process felt tangible, instinctive, and a little bit magical.
Her multi-layered, textured works often incorporate animals, children, and elements of nature — recurring symbols of innocence, interconnection, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Using beeswax, resin, and pigments, Norah builds surfaces that feel both timeless and tactile, inviting viewers into a moment of stillness and reflection.
Her work is often described as ethereal, evoking wonder and a profound sense of tranquility. Norah’s pieces have been exhibited and collected throughout the United States and displayed in galleries across Texas and New Mexico.
Website: norahlevine.com
Instagram: @norahlevine
