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Jurors’ Statement
from "Wax & Wildflowers" exhibition - International Encaustic Artists & San Antonio Art League & Museum
It has been our distinct pleasure to judge entries in the San Antonio Art League’s groundbreaking exhibition entitled “Wax and Wildflowers.” The works collected here truly advance the grand tradition of Texas wildflower painting, thrusting the subject squarely into a new century by offering striking new varieties and dramatic new interpretations of a venerable, always popular, Texas genre. The number, quality, and diversity of works submitted was quite impressive and presented a very tall and challenging order for us in attempts to winnow down the many excellent submissions to relative few.
We realize that any effort to judge art is an inherently biased process, yet we submit that we have tried to objectify our selection process to the extent possible. We have tried to consider our selection criteria within the context of the unique wildflower theme underlying the exhibition. Within that context, four primary factors have guided our selections here. These include:
1. The artist’s distinctive interpretation of the wildflower subject matter, both in terms of overall strength of composition, as well as creativity and sensitivity of presentation.
2. The presence of vivid color and/or resonating tonal qualities which accentuate the wildflower theme and subject matter.
3. The use and application of encaustic media as a tool to enhance both richness of surface textures and add value to the intrinsic compositional elements of a work.
4. Capturing the broadest possible range of artistic style, motif and genre within final selections.
As judges, we are deeply indebted to all of the artists who lovingly responded to this call for work and assure all entrants that viewing each and every work has offered us considerable joy and appreciation. Whether ultimately juried in or out, we deem all works submitted to be both worthy and effective in their own right. Thus, it has been our extraordinary privilege and opportunity to view and engage with such a strong body of work, reminding us of the natural beauties of ubiquitous wildflowers all about us as well as the enduring virtues of encausticbased media. We thank all involved (most especially the artists) and wish all involved a pleasant and delightful experience.
Bill and Linda Reaves, June 2023
FROM THE IEA WEBSITE: About Encaustic
Encaustic is a painting method, also known as hot wax painting, that involves using melted beeswax. It is usually applied to a rigid, porous, surface such as wood, stone, plaster and so on, and can be reheated into a smooth or textured finish. Powered pigment and oil paint are often used to colorize the wax. Many artists use encaustic medium which is made from adding damar resin from the Dipterocarpaceae family of trees located in India and East Asia. The resin is used as a hardening and stabilizing agent for the wax.
Heat guns, torches and irons are used to manipulate the wax, and hot guns and irons are used to apply heat to bond each layer together. The wax can be reheated and reworked, and because it is impervious to moisture it will not deteriorate. Encaustic lends itself to painting and sculpture, as well as for dipping into and painting on paper. Different opaque and translucent effects are possible, and the wax can be textured, scraped and polished to a high sheen. Working in encaustic is completely, wonderfully different than any other medium.
Encaustic printmaking is a technique that uses an anodized aluminum hotplate. Encaustic paint is applied and manipulated on the hot plate and when the drawing is complete, paper is laid over the hot wax, soaking into the paper. The technique can be done more than once on the piece, and unusual effects can be produced. Lighter papers become beautifully transparent.
History of Encaustic
The word encaustic which means “burn in,” originates from a Greek word. Greek artists practiced encaustic painting as far back as the 5th century B. C. and today these paintings are as bright and glowing as the day they were painted. The website of R&F Handmade Paints has a complete Encaustic History.
www.international-encaustic-artists.org/Aboutencaustic
WAX & WILDFLOWERS ARTISTS
Emma Ashby
Shary Bartlett
Lyn Belisle
France Benoit
Julie Blythe
Pascale Bouchard
S. Kay Burnett
Patricia Busso
Sue Conner
Chris Craft
Paula Day
Sherry DeGennaro
Andy DeWeerdt
Tannis Engel
Tracy Finn
Susan Greenbaum
Angela Hansen
Linda Ippolito
Wanda Ann Kinnaman
Susan Kirchman
Gigia Kolouch
Rebecca Lamson Nitsche
Claudia Langford
Carol Lelivelt
Laura Martinez-Bianco
Francine Michel
Regina Quinn
Michele Randall
Rhonda Raulston
Leah Read
Mary Jo Reutter
Josie Rodriguez
Patsy Sasek
Tonya Shuler
Melissa Stephens
Joan Stolpen
Mindy Tillery
Sarah Treanor
Stan Unser
Lonnie Zarem