A solo exhibition of 21 joyful, layered encaustic landscapes. Here’s my artist statement for Finding Joy:

In these anxious times, it’s important to seek out and celebrate moments of joy. Finding Joy is about recognizing the delight and wonder found in simple, often unexpected, places. These paintings celebrate those times when the beauty of the natural world suddenly stops you in your tracks: Being mesmerized by a starry night sky, noticing how the brilliant oranges and golds of autumn foliage pop against the deep blue sky, or watching a kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies as they pass through on their annual migration.  

 My painting process is defined by layering. Each piece contains up to 15-20 strata of pigmented wax. With each pass, I’m not just applying more wax paint, but intuitively responding to what is already on the surface and adding fresh thoughts and observations. I also incise and scrape away wax, revealing underlying colors and textures. During the final stages of a painting, I often rub oil paint into the marks I have made, to create even more visual interest. The highly textured surfaces of these encaustic paintings invite viewers to spend more time with them. I like the artist’s hand to be visible in my work, and the longer you spend looking at these paintings, the more you see – subtle gestures, hidden textures, and even “mistakes” that I’ve decided to leave in the work.

Blue Door Gallery is located at 2 Southside Road in York, Maine. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-11:30 am and 12:30-5; Saturdays from 9-1; and by appointment on weekends and evenings. For more information call (207) 332-2938 or email janicesantini@icloud.com.