If you’ve ever seen Pam White’s work, you know it’s impossible to look away. Based in the charming town of Bluffton, South Carolina, Pam has found her artistic sweet spot with encaustic Wax – a medium that is equal parts science, magic and a little controlled chaos. Her pieces shimmer, breathe and hold secrets you can almost feel beneath the surface.
So, what exactly is encaustic wax? In simple terms, it’s melted beeswax combined with damar resin, creating a surface that is both durable and responsive. Layers of pigment, texture and, sometimes, natural objects are fused with heat until they form a luminous, almost living finish. Pam doesn’t just paint; she builds worlds. She embeds grasses, barnacles, cloth and other treasures from the natural environment, giving each piece a tactile richness that invites exploration. Her work isn’t just seen – it’s experienced.
Pam’s journey to wax was anything but linear. She began with acrylics and oils, painting to navigate life’s ups and downs. Her early exhibitions at outdoor markets earned her recognition, awards and a growing reputation. But, then life intervened in the form of a fall on a tennis court, breaking both her wrists. For an artist used to the precision of brushes, painting suddenly became a challenge. Enter encaustic wax. Pam discovered photo encaustic, a technique where photographs are adhered to a surface and layered with wax, and she was instantly captivated. The medium’s flexibility and luminosity offered her a path back to creation during recovery – a way to make art without limits.
Since then, Pam has embraced wax fully, pushing its boundaries. Her textures rise inches from the canvas, sculptural additions turn flat surfaces into dynamic landscapes and her experiments with light and layering give her work an almost ethereal quality. Recognition soon followed – her pieces have appeared nationally, including a juried exhibition at the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Among her most beloved works is her angel series – a collection born of serendipity. While working on a memorial commission, Pam noticed rust patterns forming the shape of an angel in the background. That small, unexpected moment sparked a series that has resonated with collectors nationwide and even raised $10,000 for Dove House. For Pam, each angel is more than a painting – it’s a story of resilience, hope and transformation. Some commemorate loss, others celebrate healing and many capture life’s fleeting golden moments emerging from rusted textures.
Pam’s work is also deeply intertwined with the lowcountry itself. Marshes, oaks draped in Spanish moss and coastal landscapes seep into her pieces, not just as imagery but as Emotion, as well. Through wax, she captures the light, the texture and the ever-shifting beauty of her surroundings, weaving stories and sentiments that speak to viewers on multiple levels.
The magic of Pam White’s art lies in the marriage of process and story. Encaustic wax, with its layers, textures and surprises, becomes more than a medium in her hands – it’s a conduit for reflection, connection and wonder. Her work encourages viewers to slow down, look closer and appreciate not just the visual beauty but the layers of life that inform it, as well.
Seeing a Pam White piece in person is unforgettable. Luckily, you don’t have to wait long to experience it firsthand. Meet Pam White during the Downtown Mooresville Gallery Crawl on Friday, November 21st, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., or explore and shop her work at an exclusive one-day gallery event on Saturday, November 22nd, from 11:00 a.m. – 3p.m.
Explore more of her work online at pjwhiteart.com, on Instagram @pamwhite3 and on Facebook at Pam White.
