Thya Merz

Artist Bio & Description: I have been making and selling art for 40+ years, though it has never been my primary occupation. I’ve always wanted to keep art making separate from the need for income. In the early years that intention was instinctual, in the later years it was habit.
As an artist, my early training was studying design and ceramics in Denmark; I completed my BA in Painting and Art Education here in the states; I created theater backdrops for multiple productions; displayed my work in a variety of galleries and juried venues and explored multiple media both realistically and abstractly. Along the way I also received an M.S. in Educational Leadership, which is where I largely derived my income.

For the past 20 years I have been painting primarily in encaustic; pigmented beeswax. Encaustic is an ancient medium (think the painted portraits on Egyptian sarcophagi). It is a dynamic, fluid medium that can be layered, scraped and carved. It also lends itself to mono-printmaking, which I also employ.

I will be demonstrating both painting and printmaking processes throughout the tour.

Studio Address: 121 Cook Ave Ext, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Email: t.merzstudios@gmail.com
Website: http://thyamerz.com
Instagram: @thyamerz
Medium: Painting
Stairs: No