June ’ s mastery of the encaustic process is undoubtedly attributed to her proclivity for deciding upon a goal , no matter how remote , and working steadfastly until that goal is actualized . She discovered the age-old technique of encaustic in the mid 1970 ’ s when her long-time protégé , renowned New Orleans artist Christopher Guarisco had researched the process for an artist ’ s lecture he was giving at the University of New Orleans . Guarisco brought the technique to her attention , which June immediately embraced and began three years of practicing the pouring and “ burning in ” of beeswax and pigments onto marine plywood . Inspired by a particular ancient Roman-Egyptian Fayum mummy portrait , June set about creating a variation of the 2 nd Century A . D portrait with linen , heated wax and pigment . While slightly more gestural in attitude , June ’ s own Fayum Burial Portrait aptly echoes the eerie , focused gaze and timeworn quality of the original Egyptian portraits that were placed upon the faces of mummified bodies as early as the 1 st Century A . D . “ Learning how to make that acetylene torch do what you want it to do is the hardest part ,” June admitted , “ it took three years of practice followed by twelve years of experimentation before I had actually mastered the method and could paint these figures .”
Shifting Sands , encaustic , 56 x 54 inches , 1981-1991
While the learning process was undeniably time-consuming , it was worthwhile : June received International Honors for three consecutive years at the International Encaustic Conventions of 1989-1991 including Best in Show and Gold Medals . Her work has been shown on both the Gulf Coast and the West Coast of the United States , including solo exhibitions at the Todd Madigan Gallery at California State University Bakersfield , CA , the I . A . C . Gallery ( Beverly Hills and La Jolla , CA ) and the Nelson Rockefeller Gallery ( Palm Springs , CA ). In addition , June has been a featured artist at the New Orleans Museum of Art ( New Orleans , LA ) and the South Dakota State Historical Museum ( Huron , SD ).