Live Encaustic Painting demonstration by Pam Browne during the Maine Art Collective’s First Friday, March 6. Starting at 6 pm, Pam’s melted wax will create an Encaustic Painting on a raw wooden block panel, create base layers of wax, fuse them with a mini blow torch, explain the process, mix waxes, create detail with sculpting tools and layers of tinted wax. By 7:30 pm, she intends to have a finished Mini Encaustic Painting. Come for the whole process or drop in to get the feel of it all. She welcomes both viewers who want to see the whole process and those that just want a taste of Encaustic. And while you are there, enjoy her artwork and that of the other twenty artists, visit with artists and partake in refreshments.
Today I visited with Pam Browne to learn about her Encaustic Paintings, that is paintings that are created with layers of melted, pigmented wax. Everything is best in the artist’s own words and Pam is no exception. She was delightful in sharing with me about her work and how it has developed. This series of videos take you through her process. There’s a brief description under each video for your searching ease or to return to a favorite.
Pam shares her love of Encaustic! See you on March 6 and keep scrolling to learn more about her and Encaustic!
What story does it tell? Pam looks at her work from all directions, letting it give her further direction.
Gallery of Pam’s Encaustic Art, the sizes vary greatly and are not size relative in this gallery.
A Reflection of Extremes: The Art of Pamela Browne
Art, at its most powerful, lives in contrast. In stillness and movement. In softness and boldness. For Pamela Browne, painting is a reflection of her love for extremes — and the extraordinary beauty found in both simplicity and vibrancy.
She is drawn to dreamy landscapes and bright florals, capturing the emotion and drama of nature through a dynamic mix of mediums including acrylics, pastels, cold wax oils, and encaustic. Working in an impressionistic style with touches of abstraction, Pamela creates distinctive pieces that stand apart through shellac drips, expressive splashes, collage elements, and stenciled textures.
Her work is a fusion of observation and emotion — inspired by florals, seascapes, and mountains — resulting in art that feels both restful and exhilarating, minimal yet radiant.
A Lifelong Love of Color and Texture
From her earliest years, Pamela was captivated by painting. Color and texture became her language. Although largely self-taught, she pursued learning with devotion — taking hundreds of classes, both online and in person — studying master artists while always remaining true to her own intuitive path.
Her professional life initially unfolded in social work, where she dedicated herself to helping others. It wasn’t until her retirement during the COVID pandemic that she was able to fully commit to her art practice. That turning point marked the beginning of an intensely creative chapter — one fueled by freedom, curiosity, and bold exploration.
An Experimental and Meditative Process
Pamela’s creative process is both experimental and meditative. She delights in working with encaustic, a medium whose unpredictability excites her. Using wax, pigment, scrapers, brushes, and mixed materials, she builds layered works that invite touch as much as observation.
She embraces risk and continually pushes boundaries in pursuit of what she calls an “extreme quality” — a level of depth, texture, and emotional resonance that sets her work apart.
Influenced by artists such as Alicia Torrey and Bob Burridge, Pamela’s greatest motivation remains simple yet profound: to radiate joy and peace into the world through her art.
Art That Uplifts and Inspires
Collectors frequently note the sense of calm and happiness her work evokes. Pamela’s paintings live in homes and hotels around the world, a testament to their broad and lasting appeal. She actively exhibits with the Maine art community in Ogunquit and Portland and is a proud member of regional arts organizations, including the Saco Bay Artists Association and Maine Women in the Arts.
To date, Pamela has sold hundreds of pieces — each one a vibrant offering of beauty, carrying its own quiet energy into a new environment.
A Life of Curiosity and Joy
Beyond the studio, Pamela is an avid skier, reader, traveler, and lover of theater and the Maine coast. This spirit of curiosity and adventure subtly infuses her work, adding depth and lived experience to every brushstroke.
Her ultimate aim is as generous as it is bold: to disperse as much art as possible that brings peace and happiness. She believes art holds a vital role — to uplift, to instill serenity, and to remind us of uncomplicated joy.
It is a joy she has carried with her since her childhood in Baltimore — and one that continues to shine through in every luminous layer she creates.
Pam’s Encaustic Paintings are shown at Maine Art Collective, 9 Moulton St, Portland, ME and beginning in May 2026, Pam will host an Open Studio from 3-5 every Saturday. Use the WAZE app for directions, 6 Brady Way, Unit 102. Online Pam can be found at Pamela Browne Art.
Jo Eaton February 21, 2026
Art in Maine 