An Issaquah artist is opening a show at a Mercer Island art gallery this Friday, Dec. 1.

Valaree Cox’ new show “Evoking Curiosity | New Works in Encaustics” will open at Clarke & Clarke Art + Artifacts. Encaustic painting is a style of painting that involves adding pigment to hot wax.

The First Friday Art Walk from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. will give art enthusiasts a chance to view the pieces, talk to Cox and enjoy bubbly and bonbons.

Cox is an artist whose work is an expression of stories that are or have been happening in her life and the emotions that are evoked from those experiences. Those stories change as life does, but the work is recognizable as hers no matter the subject.

World-renowned artists Robert Rauschenberg, Anselm Kiefer and Joan Miro have all influenced Cox. Cox stated in a press release that their works are “thrilling to be in the presence of,” but that she has her own story to tell through her mixed media paintings.

“I just have to paint something using a multitude of materials to express the passions I feel about a personal or social issue,” Cox said. “Its my way of expressing those deep feelings.”

Cox is mostly self-taught, with the exception of workshops over the years at the Pratt Fine Arts Center, North Seattle Community College Edmonds and artEast in Issaquah. Her experience in glass- and jewelry-making continue to inform her creativity.

A Seattle native, Cox now lives in the Issaquah area, where she has a studio and home which she shares with her husband, a school teacher and a musician.

This is the premiere of a collection of works created especially for this opening and Cox will be present to discuss her work and her process.

Clark & Clarke is located at 7605 SE 27th St., Suite 105 in Mercer Island. If you plan to attend the event, please RSVP at 206-232-4456 or ginclark45@gmail.com.