Some of the earliest encaustic wax painters were probably the Greeks, who used the technique to fill in cracks in the hulls of their ships and to decorate their walls with murals.

Today, artists such as Debra M. Gaines still practice the art of encaustic painting, a process whereby beeswax is melted and pigment is introduced into the mixture. Ms. Gaines will be conducting an encaustic painting demonstration at the Louisa Gould Gallery, 54 Main street, Vineyard Haven on Monday, August 13, at 6 p.m.

This Sunday, August 12, artist Samuel Close will be putting the finishing touches on one of his works featuring the Edgartown Lighthouse at the Island Art Gallery located at 66 Main street in Vineyard Haven from 4 to 6 p.m. The piece is to be raffled-off, and 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum.

Baa Baa for Red Cross

On August 21 the Black Sheep on North Summer street in Edgartown is hosting a fundraiser for the Red Cross of the Cape and Islands. What the Black Sheep does best is food and wine, (to stroll through the store is like taking an edible tour of France), and their goodies will be in great abundance.

The first pairing of the evening will be three cheeses along with three crisp white wines. The second pairing will be three charcuterie paired with three summer reds.

Jawsfest Cruise

Jawsfest should not be limited to land — that’s for wimps. Better to get out on the water; after all that’s where the sharks live. On Sunday, August 12, starting at 9:30 a.m. Seastreak’s 141-foot catamaran will be heading out to sea to view scenes from the movie including East Chop, Harthaven, State Beach and Big Bridge, Cow Bay, Edgartown and Cape Pogue.