For a long time I’ve been interested in encaustic painting — so has my mom. She has dabbled in it a little bit but I’ve never tried, which I think is part of the allure — I’m not quite sure how the wax works and I don’t know the best practices for painting with it at all. Joanne Ungar uses encaustic in ways I’ve never seen before — incorporating bubble wrap as another textural piece to it.
I love how, even though it’s purple, it looks vaguely dermal. Like a cold, chicken skin under a microscope.
From the looks of her process pictures she builds frames for each work and then layers the bubble wrap with the wax taping the four sides of the container together only to unravel them when the wax has hardened. I can’t quite tell how she finishes the works.
This piece appears quite thick – I like how the added wax adds an ethereal translucence to it. I wonder what made the shape in the middle. Other than the circle I’m not sure what other shape would work in this so that it didn’t appear like a cheesy potato stamp type thing.
Some of her circular works remind me so much of Sonia Delauney, my mom’s favorite.
I love the indigo color in this one — I feel sort of kindred with Joanne in that she went to Oberlin, a school much like Skidmore I’ve been told.
joanne ungar
Hello Kate,
Temporarily disabled by a herniated disc and confined to the sofa for 3 weeks now, I finally succumbed to the lowest level of boredom and googled myself. And lo and behold, I found myself on Pokate! What a great surprise! I feel honored and important! It’s always exciting to get “artworld” recognition, but for me, it’s an extra added bonus when my work touches someone outside of the academic and gallery realm. I will put you on my mailing list! Yours truly, Joanne Ungar
Kate
Joanne! So wonderful to get your comment – it’s so wonderful for me when people read my writing so consider us even
Feel better soon!
Kate