Josephus's Page

... in art in 2000, just before retiring the next year:

“I started out doing monotypes, including doing some linocuts for them, and that led to doing collages in acrylic paint and found objects. After experimenting with the acrylic techniques of Jonathan Talbot, I discovered encaustic, or painting or sculpting with hot beeswax, and have tried my hand at that process for the past year or so.

“My objective is to discover colors, shapes and textures that, when put together, evoke a thought or idea. I’m somewhat process-oriented. Often the gratifying experience is one of combining sight, or color, and feel, or texture. I enjoy the unexpected results of trying to combine certain traditional techniques, such as watercolor on paper dipped in wax. With both monotypes and encaustic, you never quite know what will happen and that is what makes the experience interesting.

“In a way, doing art is selfish. You have to satisfy yourself first, but because most of us like being appreciated, we end up hoping that others will find something worthwhile in what we created.”

Mostly self-taught, Conover studied drawing and watercolor in the studio of Rose Camastro-Pritchett and monotype printing with Jason Mejer at Quincy University. He participated in encaustic workshops conducted by Santa Fe artist Russell Thurston and New York artist Gina Adams, an etching workshop at Anchor Graphics/Columbia College in Chicago and a monotype workshop with Bruce Waldman at the Robert Blackburn Studio in New York City.

His work has been exhibited at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, Conn., the Lessedra Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Auburn Arts Association Gallery in Auburn, Ala., the Quincy Art Center, Quincy University, the Hannibal (Mo.) Art Center and John Wood Community College.