Meet the Artist
Vivian Napier
Believe in your dreams… is the motto of Edinburgh-born Vivian Napier.
She is one of a growing school of artists who take colour energies as their primary inspiration and create work full of vibrant colour and depth.
Believing in the healing powers of positive energy, Vivian works intuitively and ‘feels’ the colours as she works with them. Nature, particularly landscapes and trees forms the basis of her work and her preference for the medium of encaustic wax enables her to combine the energy from the land into her paintings.
This has come to life most recently in her new work, inspired by the Outlander books. Vivian takes her raw materials – the wax – and leaves it to rest in the magical Highland locations from the story.
Absorbing the natural energies at each site, the wax then becomes the story and Vivian lets it guide her, translating the energy into pictures on to the canvas. She has been moved by the resulting paintings and wants to share those with other Outlander fans and with those who love the enchanted landscapes of Scotland.
Vivian's Story
Hello
For as long as I can remember art has been my bliss; painting, drawing and working with colour transports me to another dimension where I can tune out of my head and into my heart.
I am a self-taught artist based in South Queensferry, Scotland. My aim is to create feelgood art which radiates positive, happy energies.
My early art was landscape painting in oils before I discovered I had a talent for drawing portraits and caricatures. This work was in great demand however, the happy distraction of marriage and children put my art on hold for several years.
An interest in the healing power of colour energies and the desire to work with the bright colours of acrylic paints inspired me to paint again.
I chose the colours I was drawn to and painted intuitively. Nature was my inspiration.
Encaustic Wax Painting
It was the vivid colours that attracted me to encaustic wax painting. I was excited to try this unusual artform which produces pictures full of energy and mystery.
I purchased some wax blocks and glossy card and began to paint, using a travel iron as my paintbrush. Encaustic wax instantly became my new favourite medium as I watched the molten wax create intriguing landscapes, shapes and images. With practice, the artist can control the painting to some extent, but the hot wax tends to have a mind of its own. Until I put down the iron and view the finished painting, I don’t know exactly what I have created.
I felt each painting had a unique and uplifting aura and I was motivated to learn as much as I could about the healing power of colour. I published a website, excited to share information about colour therapy and chakra healing but, at this point, the universe stepped in and I knew I was on a journey that couldn’t be rushed. First I had to walk my talk and slowly my art began to evolve.
Paintings infused with Nature’s Energies
I’m a firm believer in the healing power of nature and I wondered if my waxes could be infused with energies from the natural world. I left waxes in the garden overnight bathed in the light of a full moon, took some to the seashore and left others under tree roots or on tree branches. The results were amazing, paintings created with these waxes felt energised and happy.
Continuing the theme of imprinting my waxes, a visit to several sacred Scottish sites was next on the agenda. Accompanied by my sister (an amazing intuitive colour practitioner) we enjoyed some fun road trips to Iona, Stirling Castle, the Fortingall Yew and Outlander filming locations. Our adventures are always synchronistic, surprising and inspiring.