Victoria Franck Wetsch

Victoria Franck Wetsch Victoria Franck Wetsch Victoria Franck Wetsch 3885 Trailmaster Drive Billings, Montana 59101 Phone: 406-598-1418 Contact: Send Email Web Site Address: www.franckwetsch.com My career as an artist and designer began in 1978 following my education at the Art Institute of Portland where I studied with Joachim Omneczinski, interior architect and designer from Hamburg, Germany. I became an architectural store planner and commercial interior designer with Frederick & Nelson and Meier & Frank, leading upscale retailers in Oregon and Washington. During the course of my design experience, I developed an interior design and visual display company in Portland, Oregon which eventually expanded to include a full service floral showroom where I earned prestigious design awards in Oregon competitions. After my move to Montana, I studied at the University of Montana with nationally recognized artist, Professor Neil Jussila and I was deeply inspired by his great talent. In 2002, I was awarded an academic scholarship from the University of Northern Colorado where I earned my BFA in art and history. There, I received guidance and inspiration from Professor Jenkins, currently Department Chair of Art and Design at the University of Minnesota in Duluth and Sieger Hartgers, professor of printmaking. Continuing education is very important to me and I have made it my priority to study with outstanding artists such as David DeVillier, nationally known painter; Santa Fe pastel painter, Mike Mahon; northeastern encaustic artist, Lorraine Glessner and internationally recognized glass artist, Richard Parrish from Montana. Working from my Montana studio and traveling across many states, I exhibit, compete and demonstrate my artistic techniques. Since 2005, my works of art have been juried into national and international competitions, awarded and exhibited at galleries throughout the western and mid-western regions, including several national museums. Selected works have been published on book covers and in the Rosicrucian Digest: Atlantis, Egypt, Essenes and Orphic Mysteries editions and my art was chosen from among 10,000 entries and three rounds of judging by the international, Artist Magazine as one of their finalists in the 23rd Annual International Juried Competition. Currently, I am composing original encaustic art compositions. This is a process that represents an important innovative movement involving a painting technique invented by the ancient Egyptians, developed by the Romans and perfected by the Greeks. The art was eventually revived by contemporary practitioners such as, Diego Rivera and Jasper Johns. The encaustic method allows me the freedom of spontaneity, to follow my intuitive impulses and to ultimately characterize a visual embodiment of creative images from under a stratum of unique impressions. Also known as “hot wax painting,” the Greek term, enkaustikos means “to burn in.” I formulate my medium from pure beeswax, oil pigments and damar, a fossilized resin. In its molten state, the medium is painted onto the surface substrate. Visual depth is achieved through its many fused layers and the pollen in the wax produces a final golden luster and beautiful fragrance. Over time, the surface cures and hardens into an ever enduring work of art. My encaustic creations maintain exceptional archival properties when cared for, as with all fine art forms.

Listed Artwork:   (Click on one to view more information about that artwork) Rock Face