CONNIE WOOD
I work in encaustic wax, although I have worked with numerous mediums over the years as an artist and art educator. Trying ideas, methods, and materials has been a part of my journey. I have a passion for exploring historic artistic methods that are not as readily available to current consumers. As teachers, we are constantly referencing the past and noting how current conventions are built on past knowledge. That history is valuable in every area of study. There is a beauty that is lost if not reintroduced to new generations. I enjoy sharing and the questions that are generated when people view my work. Having the medium be a curiosity helps draw viewers into the artwork.
I am currently exploring subtleties in nature close to home and incorporating timeless patterns with my subjects. I’ve lived in Idaho for the majority of my life and sometimes find it challenging to see beauty in the dry desert monotone that surrounds me. In taking time to look closer, I am exploring complex ecosystems and considering the fragile environment competing interest groups lay claim to. I use my animal imagery, with indirect reference to human behavior, in hopes of raising questions about how our environment and resources are being used. I believe that these systems and the way they are used is a microcosm of the human condition. Perhaps if we can examine issues and react to them in a compassionate manner close to home, that action will reverberate outward and have positive effects.
Our home, gardens, and vineyards in Southern Idaho have matured and become a part of our landscape that we love to share with our family and friends. Knowing that our grandchildren will grow up thinking fondly of this space and time that we have created is as much a work of art as anything I have done.
