Wax Currents - Fusing Tradition and Innovation

Description

Wax Currents: Fusing Tradition and Innovation
2026 CALL FOR ENTRY
AN EXHIBIT FROM INTERNATIONAL ENCAUSTIC ARTISTS AND WOODSTOCK SCHOOL OF ART
October 10 – December 12, 2026
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
Encaustic, derived from the Greek word enkaustikos ("to burn in"), is one of the oldest known painting mediums. Originating in ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago, the earliest surviving encaustic paintings are several hundred Fayum mummy portraits, created by Greek artists working in Egypt. 
Over the centuries, the popularity of encaustics was eclipsed and diminished by tempera painting, which was less laborious and had fewer technical requirements.  However, encaustic painting has experienced several resurgences - none greater than that of the mid-20th century as electric tools for melting and fusing wax became widely available and encaustic paint manufacturers evolved. With new found freedom and accessibility, artists began to push the medium past it's original intent and into a new era.
IEA and the Woodstock School of Art (WSA) invite artists to apply for Wax Currents: Fusing Tradition and Innovation with artwork that takes this ancient medium of painting with wax in new and innovative directions. 
Artworks may encompass traditional themes and approaches, or explore radically contemporary techniques and fresh experimentation. All media are acceptable as long as wax (cold or heated) is the primary material. We are most interested in how you, as a wax media artist, are pushing your own practice to keep it current and vital, while standing on the shoulders of the centuries and millennia of artists before you.

JUROR Dietlind Vander Schaaf holds an MFA from the University of San Francisco and an MA from the University of Southern Maine. Vander Schaaf has exhibited at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, The Fuller Craft Museum, and On Center Gallery, among others, and been featured in several Eastcoast home design magazines. She is a Core Instructor for R&F Handmade Paints, an Ampersand Ambassador, and the former president of New England Wax. Vander Schaaf has taught workshops nationally and internationally. The recipient of grants from the Maine Arts Commission and IEA, as well as a Tending Space Artist Fellowship from the Hemera Foundation, she is represented by Portland Art Gallery and Artemis Gallery.  For more information visit -  https://www.dietlindvanderschaaf.com

ENTRY FEE OPTIONS: 
Current IEA Member Fee: $20
Non-member artist fee: $40
New or Renewal IEA Member + Member Fee: $95

ART & LOCATIONArtists working with encaustics, encaustic mixed media and/or cold wax may submit up to three 2D or 3D works that are primarily hot or cold wax.
All artwork will be installed at the Woodstock School of Art, located at: 2470 Route 212, Woodstock, NY 12498. Virtual exhibits will be posted on the IEA and WSA websites.

AWARDS
- 3 Cash awards from IEA - 1 Cash award from WSA- Additional prizes given at various events during the course of the exhibition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEY DATES
Call for Entries Opens: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Deadline for Entries: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 by 11:59 (PST)
Results Sent by: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Shipped Artwork to Arrive by: Friday, September 25, 2026
Hand Delivery on: Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 3:00 - 5:00pm or Monday, October 5, 2026 | 10:00AM - 2:00pm
Installation: October 6 - 9, 2026
Opening Reception & Awards at Woodstock School of Art: Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 2:00 - 4:00 pmOnline & Gallery Exhibition Dates: October 10 - December 12, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 2 - 4 pmJuror Presentation & Awards Announced: Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 1 - 2 pm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITION RELATED EVENTS
WSA Encaustic Instructor Exhibition & Open House: Friday, October 9, 2026 from Noon - 5 pmOpening Reception, Production & Brown Pink Tours at R&F Paints
Live and Virtual R&F Painting Demonstration & Art Material Raffle: Saturday, November 7, 2026 from 4 - 6 pmWith Dietlind Vander Schaaf at Woodstock School of Art, more information will be available on the IEA & WSA websites
Artist Panel Discussion: Saturday, December 5, 2026, time TBDPanelists TBD at Woodstock School of Art-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORKSHOPS AT WSA
Encaustic Layers & Translucency : October 7-8, 2026With Dietlind Vander Schaaf at Woodstock School of Art
Between Dusk & Dawn, Group Tour & Trip to R&F Paints: October 14 - 18, 2026With Regina Quinn at Woodstock School of Art and R&F Paints
Abstraction with R&F Pigment Sticks and Drawing Oils: October 16 - 17, 2026With Melanie Delgado at Woodstock School of Art
Color by Color: October 20 - 22, 2026With Richard Frumess and Thomas Sarrantonio at Woodstock School of Art
Wax and Blooms: Exploring Botanicals in Encaustic Art: October 24 -25, 2026With Alaina Enslen at Woodstock School of Art
Advanced Teaching: Encaustics for Educators, Group Tour & Trip to R&F Paints: November 1 - 5, 2026With Dietlind Vander Schaaf at Woodstock School of Art and R&F Paints
Photo Encaustic and Mixed Media: November 10 - 12, 2026With Wayne Montecalvo at Woodstock School of Art
Fallen Blossoms: Encaustic on Paper: November 14 - 15, 2026With Regina Quinn at Woodstock School of Art
Conversations About Color: December 1 - 3, 2026With Richard Frumess and Lisa Pressman at Woodstock School of Art
Intro to Encaustic Collage: December 5 - 6, 2026With Leslie Guiliani at Woodstock School of Art
A Sense of Trees: December 12 - 13, 2026With Regina Quinn at Woodstock School of Art
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF EXHIBITION DATES
Retrieve Artwork In-Person: Monday, January 4 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm or Tuesday, January 5, 2027 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Pack & Return Artwork Shipments: January 4 - 10, 2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE: ArtCall.org uses the term artwork "application" instead of artwork submission.
ELIGIBILITY
• All IEA members and non-members working in wax as their primary medium.
• Entrants must be 18 years or older.
MEDIA
• All media are acceptable as long as wax (cold or heated) is a primary material.
HOW TO ENTER
• To enter your artwork applications/submissions via ArtCall.org go to: https://waxcurrentstaditioninn...
Photograph Guidelines:
Please submit your images as JPG files using the following guidelines: 300 dpi images no larger than 10MB with the larger dimension between 1920 and 3600 pixels. Each application/submission allows for 2 photographs. The first image is required - this photograph should show the entire artwork. The second image is provided for an OPTIONAL DETAIL IMAGE ONLY.Label each image as: ArtworkTitle.jpgPhotograph or crop the image, so that it does not include frame or background.
Include in your User Profile:
1) Headshot photograph - required
2) Address, city, state, country, zip code - required
3) Email - required
4) Artists Statement (max. 200 words/1200 characters) - required
5) Artist Biography (max. 500 words/3000 characters) - required
5) Website - optional
6) Social media handles - optional
Required information in your Applications/Submissions:
The "Relationship to the Theme" box is for a short description of how the artwork relates to the theme for EACH artwork. (max. 200 words/1200 characters) Artwork PhotoArtwork title Medium Size (H x W x D) Price (Artist commission 80% and WSA commission 20%.)
Optional information in your Applications/Submissions:
- The "Media Used" section is for a detailed list of material used, in addition to hot or cold wax (max. 100 words/600 characters)- Second photograph for a detail image. DO NOT place images of yourself or other submissions/applications in the second (optional) photo box.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are new to using Artcall.org, PLEASE read the following carefully, and watch the tutorial video below before entering.- To apply, register for the call at the above web address by creating an account (or logging in if you already have one) with artCall.org. You will receive an email confirmation of your registration with a link to complete your submission.
 - Pay the submission fee, which will allow you to submit up to 3 artworks. ArtCall.org uses the term "applications" to refer to each of the artworks you are including with your submission. To create additional applications/submissions, click on the red "Add New Application +" button.
 - Add the requested information and upload an image for each artwork application/submission. Please upload one image per application, unless you are including an optional detail of artwork. There are instructions along the way to help you. - Don't worry if you make a mistake or want to change your applications; you can log into your account at any time( prior to the deadline) to make changes to your applications or account.
 - There is a 60 minute time limit, so it is best to have all your images and information gathered and ready to go before beginning the entry submission.
• Once the call is over, you may check the status of your application by logging into your account at artCall.org. Juried status, receipt of artwork at the venue, and sales will be updated there.

SPECIFICATIONS
1. All entries must follow the timelines provided.
2. Image submission via artCall.org must follow the guidelines in the IEA/Woodstock School of Art prospectus.
3. To be juried, entries must:
• Be original
• Have NOT been exhibited in previous IEA or Woodstock School of Art juried exhibitions
• Have NOT been completed under instruction or in direct association with a class or workshop
4. Once accepted, artwork must:
• Be ready for display – dried, physically stable and wired for hanging. D-rings strongly recommended on 2D work). If unusual installation, please include any special hardware, instructions, and/or photograph.
• 2D work or wall-mounted 3D must not exceed 20 lbs.    3D work that is not wall-mounted must not exceed 200 lbs. or 72” in dimension
• Have a completed ID tag attached to the back, upper right-hand corner of the artwork for 2D work or the bottom of 3D work. You will be able to print this ID tag through artCall.org• Be part of the exhibit until the closing date and NOT picked up early by the artist or purchaser
** Shipped artwork must include a pre-paid return shipping label. Artwork that arrives without a prepaid return label may not be exhibited.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SALES
All artwork exhibited MUST BE PRICED and available for sale. The Woodstock School of Art commission is 20%.
LIABILITY
1. All unsold artwork that was hand-delivered must be picked up by scheduled dates. 
2. Woodstock School of Art & IEA will not be responsible for loss or damage to any work of art submitted, and all works submitted and received are subject to this condition. All possible care will be used in handling entries.
3. Woodstock School of Art & IEA will take the greatest care in recycling packaging materials for return shipments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DELIVERY OF ACCEPTED WORK
Artwork MUST HAVE: a prepaid return label and an ID tag attached to the back, upper right-hand corner of the artwork for 2D work, or on the bottom of 3D work. You will be able to print this ID tag through artCall.org. ALL hanging hardware must be attached. (NOTE: D-rings strongly recommended on 2-D art.)
SHIPPING ART
Shipped Artwork to Arrive By: Friday, September 25th
Artwork, along with any necessary hardware for installation and ID tag should be shipped with a pre-paid return label included to:
Woodstock School of Art, 2470 Route 212, Woodstock, NY 12498
Artists are responsible for all shipping and insurance charges to and from the exhibition site. Return prepaid shipping document must be included with submission. 
IN-PERSON DELIVERY OF ART
In-Person Delivery Dates: Saturday, October 3 | 3:00 - 5:00pm or Monday, October 5th | 10:00AM - 2:00pm to: Woodstock School of Art, 2470 Route 212, Woodstock, NY 12498
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JURY PROCESS
Monetary awards and honorary recognitions will be selected by the juror and may be based on accepted physical artwork delivered to the Woodstock School of Art. The juror and Woodstock School of Art reserve the right to reconsider delivered artwork if it differs from the submitted image. These works may or may not be included in the exhibition at the discretion of the committee.
For more information about International Encaustic Artists, or to become a member, click here!

User Entry Process Tutorial

You can leave this video on your call site's homepage (or embed it on any page) for a quick tutorial your users can watch to help them with the submission process.