Charis Strata is an encaustic monotype assembly created with beeswax from the artist's backyard hives in Arvada, Colorado. The pursuit of making her own artistic medium inspired Emily to learn to keep bees and transformed her outdoor space into a haven for pollinators, weaving the care for a living system into her art practice. The work mirrors Colorado geology: canyons carved in strata, sharp ridgelines and hollow valleys, ground pressed and overlaid by time. The title (Charis, Greek; grace, freely-given favor, kindness) honors Emily's heritage and the generosity of a friend who offered up his studio space for the creation of the piece.