Junanne Peck

[Junanne Peck]

Good Evening Artist....
My name is Junanne Peck and I am about to share with you a little of what it took to get me to here....
1rst question was: How did you get started with art-if it was just a love of art, accident, natural talent, etc.... I would have to say it was a little of all but mostly the pleasure of play....
Now begins the story (touching only the highlights) at the age of 10 or 11, I begin my writing career on my bedroom walls..."ladies and gentlemen, hobos and tramps, crossed eyed mosquitoes and bow-legged ants. oh , I won't bore you with the rest of what I wrote....I was torn between Davy Crockett and his coonskin hat and the desire to be a beatnik with bongos. I continued to write my own poems and beat the bongos while wearing Davy's hat.....this launched me into my art journey....Small town in Southeast Texas..the only art was a drawing and charcoal lesson injected into an English class...Moved to New Mexico and persued my theater and dance career (still in the arts) thats uhhh jr high in Hobbs...singer/dancer in musical "Jubilation T. Cornpone" and dancing the "Madison" on a million dollar stage.
Lets skip several years devoted to sex, drugs and rock n roll.Albuquerque winning champagne in dance contest...entering the cage as a gogo girl (still the arts , right?) well, I danced my way to New Orleans and lived in the French Quarter for a couple of years...dancing, protesting war (still doing that) New Orleans Art everywhere! Life is Art!..I began to journal and sketch...this continued off and on for several years....at some point during this time I made the decision to follow my passion and declare my life as an artist. I had many mentors along the way and took some painting and sculpture classes at New Mexico State. (I still like to take workshops and classes) I started exhibiting my work Albuquerque, Alamogordo, La Luz,Grants and Ruidosa, New Mexico.
Sold a few pieces, a confirmation to the decision I made.
I moved back to Texas in 1983...first stop Bryan ,Tx. Exhibited work in Galleries and one little restaurant... sold more work there than in the gallery. This opened new venues, showing my work in alternative spaces. Second stop, Dallas, Tx.the same year.I've been exhibiting work in Dallas, Fort Worth and oklahoma since.
You ask me about my style...mmmm.....If I chose to give it a label it would be contemporary...maybe after viewing my website I'll let you label it. I'm a painter and printmaker and just started a journey in encaustics.
Now you ask where am I with my art.....I continue to produce new work and exhibit several times a year in galleries and alternative spaces. I have work now five galleries. Art Hotel, Decor, Texas Visual arts Gallery, in Texas and one in Alaska. Coming up is an exhibit in Fort Worth, Tx. at Tarrant County College and Dallas Discovery Gardens. A solo Exhibit at the Eclectic Expressions Gallery in Arlington, Tx. February, 2010.I will be exhibiting a new series of Monotypes.
Question:what do I do to promote my art?.....I have been chosen as one of the Texas Original Artist for the past two years by the Texas Commission on the Arts. I promote through them and art groups, galleries and museums.I teach art through "Young Audiences" in Dallas ISD and also work with kids at risk. All the things I do every day gives me opportunities to promote my work.
Please take this opportunity to check out my website and feel free to ask questions or critique.
http://web.mac.com/junannepeck
http://www.arts.state.tx.us/txoriginal
http://www.yanorthtexas.org
http://www.texaswax.com

[Verneda Lights]

What influenced your use of encaustics. How is it different from other medias that you use?

[Junanne Peck]

Verneda,
Years ago while living in New Mexico, I had a friend who taught me to Batik.. Artist Charmayne Davis.I worked off and on in this medium...then last year I read an article on encaustics and was reminded of the wonderful aroma of working with beeswax. Both Batik and Encaustics use beeswax in them.
The only difference I can see is the medium itself. It has never-ending possibilities in experimentation which is in all mediums.( well, in all artist)

[Paula Johnson]

Junanne, my knowledge of the encaustic process leaves much to be desired. Would you be kind enough to enlighten me a bit on this topic? Thank you.

[Junanne Peck]

Paula,
I am giving you the dictionary definition as it covers the medium well. Also links to some encaustic websites for more information.
Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface — usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used.
The simplest encaustic mixture can be made from adding pigments to beeswax, but there are several other recipes that can be used — some containing other types of waxes, damar resin, linseed oil, or other ingredients. Pure, powdered pigments can be purchased and used, though some mixtures use oil paints or other forms of pigment.

Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint before it cools, or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax once it has cooled onto the surface. Today, tools such as heat lamps, heat guns, and other methods of applying heat allow artists to extend the amount of time they have to work with the material. Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as painted. Other materials can be encased or collaged into the surface, or layered, using the encaustic medium to adhere it to the surface.

This technique was notably used in the Fayum mummy portraits from Egypt around 100-300 AD, in the Blachernitissa and other early icons, as well as in many works of 20th-century American artists, including Jasper Johns.

Encaustic art has seen a resurgence in popularity since the 1990s with people using electric irons, hotplates and heated stylus on a variety of different surfaces including card, paper and even pottery. The iron makes producing a variety of artistic patterns elementary. However, the medium is not limited to just abstract designs, it can be used to create complex paintings, just as in other media such as oil and acrylic.

links :
International Encaustic Artists
New England Wax
 
R&F Handmade Paints
Evans Encaustics
Encaustikos 
 

[Brian Statom]

Hey Junanne,

I'm a neighbor from Shreveport, La. and I love your work I've seen here. I need to take the time to look at some of these sites that you are assoc. with. I have noticed that all of the pictures I have seen are of women. I stop short of asking if you would consider yourself a Feminist artist, but can you elaborate?

[Junanne Peck]

Brian,
I really don't know how to give you a direct answer...so heres what I have...
I live on Mother Earth and she is female
I believe it will take the female energy to heal the planet
I have three sisters and a mother
I am female
I make art
I am not a maleinist
Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. Yes!
I would consider myself a Junanneinist
do you want more elaboration?

[Slone Fries]

Wow, no one can say you didn't live your life! I believe that our lives are reflected in our work, whether it be art, writing,etc. Travels and the experiences that come with that change you as a person and therefor your art. I really like how you are giving back to the community by helping children at risk, with your art. You are sharing something (a whole new world)that they would otherwise never get to see. I guess one of my big questions for you is something I wrote a past featured artist about and I hope in the future they let us know. Are you needing help in anyway or are we just "showcasing you"? Either is fine however, you seem to have made some wonderful accomplishments, you have art in studios to sell and you don't seem lost on where you are going... I think it would help readers to know what type of replies you are looking for...you would get more interaction that way. When you reply let me know and I will email everyone else about it since technically your on till this Sunday:>

[Junanne Peck]

Sloane,
You ask if I needed help or were you just showcasing me...well, I would hope that both would be covered...I never tire of feedback and positive (meaning things I can use) in a critique. I am always open to new venues and would assist anyone else interested in new places to exhibit.
I didn't realize you had to need something in order to share in this program..I like to meet other artist and one thing I'm always curious about is something about them...we see their work and it's always nice to know a little something about their experiences getting to where they are...
I'm open to any questions about my art....you say it would help readers to know what type of replies i'm looking for...Feedback..anyway I can be a part of getting someone else to the next level...and visa versa....
When I signed up I was excited about feedback and critique and sharing ideas ....maybe I need to go back and re read the mission of artist to artist "Take it to the Next Level" I would like to be taken to the next level.....