My art is mixed media and combines assemblage, encaustic painting, the use of books and wood panels as substrates, and found objects as relevant embellishments. The beeswax of encaustic painting allows me to generate layers of information in my artwork, but keep it mysterious....almost dreamy and historical. I employ found objects to embellish a piece that is reinvented as a retrospective, pleasant and, sometimes, functional piece of art. My art takes many forms, but keeps a theme of changes, of layers, of old, of memories, of looking back and of reutilization. The artwork I produce ranges from subtle or mysterious to bold and brash.

My work is continually evolving and is inspired by issues in biology, influence of science in my life, and the major players in the history of science and religion. I utilize the interrelations between math, science, music, philosophy and practical applications in technology. My love for books influenced my decision to recycle them in an altered form and continually utilize themes involving text.

Raymond Papka