Joan Lowden, Artist:

My main artistic passion is music, jazz bass in particular, but I had explored visual arts in my youth and developed a renewed interest when I discovered encaustic painting several years ago.  Encaustic (from the Greek, "to burn") painting combines hot beeswax with colored pigments and dates back thousands of years. I am particularly enticed by the textural quality of encaustic painting, and the way that I can merge this ancient art with modern technology, such as digital photography, to create unique works of art.

Encaustic painting is quite similar to jazz because it is very improvisational - you might start with a plan, but the hot wax has a plan of its own, so the art comes from letting the materials ultimately guide the journey.

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I joined the 20 member Eastport Gallery, a constituent of the Eastport Arts Center, in 2019 and assumed the role of president for the 2020/2021 season.  I am excited to continue to explore the creative opportunities that the Gallery has offered me, both as an artist and musician!