Artist Bio - Julienne Saslaw

Born and raised in New York City, Julienne Freincle Saslaw began studying art in high school as well as taking classes at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.

Having won an art scholarship and BA degree in college, she continued her studies with illustrious teachers of the time at the Art Students League, School of Visual Arts, and the Brooklyn Museum Art School. She also earned a Masters Degree in Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Although she originally taught art in high schools, she also taught graduate level classes in the nature of creativity in the education department of Hofstra University.

After early retirement, she went back to college to explore contemporary painting and sculpture and get back to self discovery and to develop more personal means of expression.

She has continued that exploration on her own, concentrating on conveying her emotional reactions to natural phenomena.

After moving to Rhode Island with her husband eight years ago, she joined various art organizations and at present is a member of Imago Gallery as well as the Newport Museum, and the Art League of Rhode Island.

Her studio is in a loft in the arts section of Providence, There she works in watercolors, acrylics, oils, photography, and encaustics on wood shapes that she prepares herself.

* Notes on Encaustic Painting *

Encaustic Painting comes from the Greek, “enkaustikos,” which means “to heat” or “to burn.”

About 2000 years ago, the Greeks were using wax to seal their boats and mixed with colored powder, to decorate them. It was used on marble statues, on pottery, on flat paintings, and as a portrait on mummies. Those paintings look as though they were just painted.

The wax is kept just hot enough to melt but not burn. Layers of wax are fused together.

Encaustic Paintings should last at least 1000 years (unless left in a hot car in summer or over 130 degrees).
Today, Encaustic wax is often used with other mediums such as oil paints, collage, and as sculpture itself.