Joycelyn Merchant

 

 

 

Biography

Joycelyn Merchant received a BAFA with Departmental Honors from Roosevelt University. Concentrating in painting, her teacher and mentor was Don Baum, founder of the Chicago Imagist movement. Upon graduation, chance diverted her into a 35 year career in metal smithing, designing, and making handcrafted jewelry. Her work was sold and exhibited widely. For eight years, she also owned a jewelry gallery in Wilmette, IL. For the last ten years she has also pursued an interest in the book arts, eventually teaching specialty workshops to book artists and conservators. In retirement she now returns to painting, exploring the use of encaustic medium.

Artist Statement

After a long career in metals and book arts, I am now exploring the use of encaustic medium. Dadaism, Surrealism and the absurd, all influence my current 3D work. I select familiar, but unrelated items from my large collection of miscellaneous found objects. Juxtaposing them in unexpected ways, altering and editing as I move through the creative process, results in entirely new objects, and gives life to my unique artistic vision. The use of encaustic medium in the process lends a sense of eeriness, making these objects reminiscent of something one might find in a wax museum.