Joan Elliott
Mixed Media, Encaustics, Found Objects

I create paintings and small sculptures using an assortment of mediums such as oil and acrylic paint, bees’ wax and found objects. My works are almost always a process of experimentation and unfolding. I lather on, scrape away, mix into, and keep working an art piece until it feels finished. I may begin with a single shape or object, but end with multiple layers, varying textures, and patterns. Similarly, I may begin an artwork’s subject with a simple thought, but end with broader concepts, relationships, and metaphors.

The Southern Appalachian region is a great influence on my art. I walk outdoors every day and see the tremendous variety and richness of shapes, colors, and textures. I often pick up objects to reference or use directly in an artwork. Like the natural world, my creative side grows and often reveals the unexpected.

Joan lives and works in Unicoi, Tennessee surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains. She earned her Masters of Social Work in 1982 and enjoyed a career in the mental health field. She went back to school and completed a BFA with a concentration in painting from ETSU in 2006. Joan shows her art in local and regional galleries and exhibits. She supports Arts Corps, as after school arts program for underserved youth. She appreciates serving on the board of the Johnson City Area Arts Council and the Watauga Valley Art League.