Jurors’ Statement

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