Isabelle Gaborit
About Isabelle
Isabelle Gaborit is a professional visual artist originally from La Rochelle, France. After spending 30 inspiring years immersed in the luminous landscapes of Ireland’s west coast, she has returned to the remote heart of central France, surrounded by dormant volcanoes, ancient forests, rivers, gorges, and hot springs—her new sources of inspiration. She holds a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and began her creative journey at l’École des Beaux-Arts in Poitiers, France, studying sculpture, drawing, and painting. Since graduating in 2006, her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including in the USA, Northern Ireland, China, Germany, and France.
As a contemporary artist, Isabelle primarily works in encaustic, an ancient painting technique that embodies the passage of time. Her practice is rooted in mark-making, gesture, and daily sketching, translating visual memories—forms, colors, textures, and patterns—into layered, evocative compositions. Her work reflects the dynamic forces of nature, echoing geological processes of construction, erosion, and renewal. Each painting evolves through a tactile, physical process: layering pigmented beeswax, scraping and carving cooled surfaces, and sculpting textures that mirror landscapes shaped over time. The resulting pieces invite viewers to explore intricate surfaces, uncovering traces of history, memory, and place.
With over 20 years of experience facilitating art workshops, Isabelle regularly leads classes and retreats both nationally and internationally. She is deeply committed to mentoring emerging artists through the IEA Mentor Program (where she serves as a board member), the Mastrius platform, and online and in-person workshops worldwide. She guides artists in developing professional practice, refining their creative voice, and establishing a strong artistic presence. Additionally, as a Core Artist Instructor for R&F Handmade Paints, Isabelle shares her expertise in encaustic with students around the globe.
You can view Isabelle’s work at:
www.isabellegaborit.com
www.facebook.com/isabellegaboritencausticartist
www.instagram.com/isabellegaboritencaustics
Class Details
Beneath the Surface: Playing with Transparency and Opacity
For her main online session for PWF6, Isabelle will share her unique approach to using contrast between transparency and opacity in encaustic painting—a method she has been developing over the past few years. Unlike her usual process, this technique involves applying translucent layers beneath opaque layers and then carving back to reveal the luminous depth underneath, creating a rich sense of shifting light, depth, and contrast.
She will start with quick sketches and intuitive studies, exploring composition and mark-making, before moving into experimental layering, playful underpaintings, and interactive carving techniques. By the end of the session, participants will understand how to manipulate transparent and opaque wax to create glowing, dynamic surfaces, and will gain insight into a fresh, innovative approach to building luminosity and depth in encaustic painting.
Reference Images: Your Friend, Not Your Master
For this mini session for PWF6, Isabelle will guide students on how to use reference images effectively while maintaining the energy, story, and originality in their paintings. Participants will learn how to select compelling subjects, simplify complex scenes, and reinterpret reality through thumbnails, value studies, and thoughtful composition. The emphasis is on using references as a tool for inspiration, not as a blueprint to copy, ensuring that each painting tells a clear, expressive story.
By the end of the class, students will be able to take reference photos with intention, analyze shapes and light, create multiple thumbnail sketches, and translate their ideas into dynamic paintings that go beyond what the camera captured. Through guided exercises and demonstrations, they will develop the skills to balance observation and imagination, creating artwork that is both grounded in reality and uniquely their own.
