Meet Tiffany Bociek | Multi media artist whose focus is in using Encaustic as her main medium

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiffany Bociek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Short answer: there was nothing I ever really wanted to do except make art or be creative. When I was in 4th grade, we had a career day at school. Part of the prompt for this day was to come dress as your future career or job. I watched as child after child filed into the classroom wearing a white lab coat to indicate some sort of doctor, vet, zoologist, etc, or other children draped in their father’s oversized blazers transforming these children into lawyers or presidents. Other students would walked in the classroom in modest dresses with hair up in a tight bun to indicate the stately identity of a teacher. I walked in wearing a white oversized shirt, covered in paint, a beret (because to a 4th grader in the 1990s that was the iconic symbol of all artists); and in one hand I held my great grandmothers oil paint box full of stinky oil paints, messy charcoals, and deliciously colored soft pastels; and under the other arm, I carried a blank canvas and a desktop easel. I set my little station up and felt entirely like a fish out of water as I survey the room full of blazers and white coats. I believe, I can safely say: I have always wanted to pursue a creative path.

Being artistic or creative lights up my brain and heart so I knew that whatever I did in life, I wanted it to be creative.
I have always wanted to draw, paint, or use my hands somehow. I always had some sort of sketch book close at hand to make terrible drawings in. I went to college and studied art but it wasn’t till many years later when I discovered encaustic that the desire to truly grow as an artist took root. There is something so appealing and tactile about encaustic process that keeps me coming back time and time again. Being able to make art feeds me; I am constantly problem solving, learning, growing, finding balance, writing––to me everything that make a wonderful life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Working in encaustic is such a unique experience. If you are not sure what Encaustic is, in a nutshell: encaustic is a form of painting (or making 3 dimensional sculpture) using a series of hot wax layers (clear or colored wax). Each layer is fused together using a heat gun, torch, iron, or other heat element. Using encaustic wax as my main medium allows me to play with so many different ideas and techniques. In my work I like to create dream-like ephemeral spaces. To do this, I use collaged elements such as found imagery from vintage magazines or my own little doodles, drawing, or hand paintings. I can carve into the wax, build up the wax for texture. I use oil paint or oil sticks to paint into or onto the wax layers, I can draw with wax pencils, alcohol ink, or use pan pastel, as well as add in photo-transfers. Encaustic allows me the freedom to explore and experiment to my hearts desire or as my curiosity dictates.

In 2005 I saw my first encaustic painting; I was in Boston, MA and by happenstance I walked into a gallery that featured predominately “classical” style paintings. However, on this one wall, resided the most dreamy and luscious painting I had ever seen. I can remember thinking: “What is this?”, “how is it made”, is it resin, oil paint?” and my curiosity about this painting just began to flow out. Fast forward to 2014, I had not forgotten about the experience, yet still had not identified what the medium was. I just happened to be taking a few art classes around town and noticed there was this very unique class for encaustic: “learn to paint with wax”. And that is when the lightbulb went off. I took the class and found that this technique was the missing link in my creative journey. Working with encaustic allows me to tie in so many different loves and passions into a single medium; as well as, tap into concepts I really to explore as an artist: nostalgia, memory, dreams.

Nostalgia and the idea of memories are central elements to my work. Using nostalgic-feeling imagery and dream-like surrealistic landscapes, I try to walk the lines of liminal space: the space between what was and what is. My memories, my current and past experiences, my self-reflections blend and blur the brief moment where the past and the future converge to create the present which is an evolving threshold of possibilities. I tend to describes my work as walking in a daydream. Melting together surrealistic landscapes, abstracted backgrounds, and representational imagery, I build imaginary dreamscapes inviting the viewer to get lost in the “in between,” the home of what was and what is.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is so much to do in San Diego I wouldn’t know where to start. I don’t know if I could give an minute by minute itinerary per-say, but I can give you a short list of some of my favorite places. One of my favorite restaurants around town is Trust on Park Blvd. For me, this restaurant is a splurge, so when I get a chance, this is the place I go. I love the menu, I love the wine list, I love the atmosphere, the food is exceptional and worth every single penny. After dinner, most likely, we would be looking to see what art exhibits and galleries are having openings. San Diego is full of galleries from Barrio Logan to Carlsbad, there is always something happening an new artists to see.

Another fun and unique experience to to grab a drink and listen to live jazz or music at Panama 66. I think it is just such a unique experience, The restaurant is completely outdoors, in the heart of balboa park, and butts up against the outdoor sculpture garden. This is a fairly regular stomping ground for myself and my husband.

Another place I have been finding myself often is the San Diego Zoo. Though, this is a little more tourist-y of a recommendation, I have really been enjoying just walking around and experiencing all of the different micro climates the zoo has created for each section as well as the wide variety of flora and fauna. It is a great place to people watch and just relax for an hour or two. And as an artist, it is a great place to sit, pull a sketchbook out, and just have a little fun drawing. We are truly lucky to have such a wonderful zoo in our back yard.

A day trip between the Mountains and the beach would most likely be on the activity list. San Diego is so unique due to the close distance between the mountains and the beach. When long distance friends come to visit, I will typically suggest starting our day off with a early morning hike up in the Cuyamacas or up Volcon Mountain. If there is time, maybe drive down into Anza Borrego or if not, maybe head back into Julian for a coffee and pastry or lunch. In an ideal timeline, there is enough time to do a little wine tasting in Santa Isobel or Ramona before we shoot down to the beach for a little late afternoon/early evening walk on the sand and dip a in the ocean. I feel that there are very few places where a day in the mountains (or desert) and a day on the beach can happen in the same day.

One final event that is definitely on the activity list is flying on the trapeze at Trapeze High. I have been doing trapeze since 2020 and though I can not go as often as I would like, it is just such a unique experience that I always try to encourage anyone who will listen to go with me––even if you just sit and watch, you will not be disappointed.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that need a shoutout, I have been truly blessed to have a strong and encouraging support system. Over this past year or so, I have been working with a mentor, Lorraine Glessner. (https://www.lorraineglessner.net/). She is a fellow encaustic artist and I am truly honored to have had her guidance and support. When I first started working with her I was struggling. I was working 2 jobs which together were well over the typical “40 hours a week” timeframe and I had an upcoming exhibition at Sparks Gallery in downtown San Diego which is a large gallery space. I came to Lorraine fearful, blocked, and drained. She helped me tap into a part of myself that I had always push to the side because there was always something more “pressing” which needed attending to. Instead, she helped me to listen to myself, see the steps needed to accomplish my goals, and expand as an artist. I am continually grateful everyday that Lorraine was willing to go on this journey with me and still is.
I wouldn’t be where I am without the continued love and encouragement from my friends and family. I wish I could shoutout each of them, however, I must single out my husband, Neal Bociek (www.nealbociek.com), who is a fellow artist and musician, and has continually encouraged my creative growth. I can’t even begin to describe the patience, encouragement, and love I feel from him. He has watch as my home studio slowly took over our house for various projects, as well as, helped me engineer and problem solve a variety of issues. I can’t imagine where I would be if I had not met him. I am honored to be his wife, and living the dream side by side.

Website: https://www.tiffanybociekstudios.com/

Instagram: @tiffanybociekstudios

Facebook: @tiffanybociekstudios

Image Credits
Haley brooke photo IG:@Haleybrookephoto took all of the photos including the images of the artwork. She has given me permission to use the images