MARTINHUNTING
Original Artworks
Encaustic Workshop
Martin Hunting
About Me
As a Melbourne-based artist working primarily in the encaustic medium, my practice is grounded in close observation, ecological awareness, and the material possibilities of wax. Encaustic—an ancient technique combining molten beeswax and pigment—allows for a luminous, layered surface that holds both gesture and atmosphere. Across several interconnected bodies of work, I explore the relationships between urban environments, native birdlife, significant Australian landscapes, and contemporary materiality.
My Galleries
CONTEMPORARY WORKS
Local Fragments forms a key part of a five-work series examining nature’s ceaseless generation of variation and flux. In this piece, layered copper sheeting, wax encaustic, and acrylic fields interact through chemical change, heat, and chance-driven processes. Patinas bloom unpredictably across the surface, creating shifting zones of colour and texture that echo organic growth and erosion.
Structured divisions—grids, panels, and geometric markers—intersect with these fluid transformations, suggesting the continual negotiation between order and instability.
Endangered Species Collection
This series of encaustic and mixed media portraits dedicated to Australia’s endangered native birds. Through evocative and meditative artwork, it highlights the fragility of these species and the ecosystems they inhabit, emphasising themes of memory, vulnerability, and the shared responsibility humans have to protect their non-human counterparts and the natural world.
Landscapes
Willpena Pound Series
As an artist, I am deeply inspired by the ancient landscape of Wilpena Pound—Ikara. The timelessness of this place, shaped over millions of years, adds a profound sense of history and connection to my work. My encaustic paintings aim to capture not only the shifting colors and beauty of the land.
Each painting became a kind of collaboration with both the landscape and the materials. Incorporating iron filings and rust effects brought an earthy, organic quality to the works, while the use of wax allowed me to convey the glow and depth of the oranges and purples observed during my visit. Through these works, I hope to share not just the visual beauty of Wilpena Pound, but also the sense of experimentation, discovery, and connection I felt as both an observer and an artist.
Sunflowers and Lorikeets
Exploring Urban Life and Local Wildlife
This series delves into the intricate relationship between urban environments and the wildlife that inhabits them. Set in Melbourne, I cultivate sunflowers specifically to attract rainbow lorikeets, observing and photographing their feeding habits. These lively interactions serve as the foundation for each piece in the series.
Sunflowers and Lorikeets encourages viewers to recognise how even modest acts of cultivation in urban settings can foster meaningful connections between people and the natural world. The series highlights the potential for harmony and interaction that exists within everyday city life.
Cyanotype Prints
In my own practice, I use cyanotype prints to explore photography in a unique and creative way. I have completed a series inspired by the paintings of Willpena Pound, as well as a collection featuring lorikeets and sunflowers. These projects allowed me to experiment with composition and the interplay of light and shadow, resulting in distinctive and expressive works that showcase the versatility of the cyanotype process.
