JEFF SCHALLER

b.1970. Manchester, Connecticut; education: 1991, Bachelor of Fine Arts City of London Polytechnic, London, England; 1992, Beaver College, PA; Schaller (pronounced shay-ler) defines his oeuvre with uniquely sophisticated compositions. Provocative and whimsical, Schaller propels the viewer into scenes of seemingly unrelated subjects, his own captivating and complex sonatas. Simultaneously, they are pop and edgy, esoteric and direct. Using encaustic* paints, Schaller uses lost and found images, words and language, to paint with a precision and intricacy not normally found in encaustic paintings. His approach is expressionistic, contemporary, and painterly, with powerful brush strokes that are set instantaneously.

Schaller’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States. He is frequently published in magazines and newspapers, chosen for juried art exhibitions and selected for special projects, commissions and murals. He recently completed a 30 feet mural for the Philadelphia Arts Commission that is placed in their transportation centers. His work can also be seen on the set of “Friends” for the 2002 and 2003 season. In 2002, Schaller received a highly coveted fellowship from the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania. In 1998, Schaller was the recipient of the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art Purchase Award. Recent juried exhibitions include“Encaustic works ‘01 and ‘03” (he was one of 15 artists selected for the exhibit from a field of 200). Schaller is a philanthropic and committed artist who lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three small children.

Artist Statement
Using lost and found images, words and language, my goals are to paint with a precision and intricacy not normally found in encaustic paintings. My approach is with a vision towards expressionistic and contemporary. Instantaneously setting powerful brush strokes that evoke an emotional connection of the viewer to the past and reflect on their sensibility in the present as a result of their memory. I want people to bring their own thoughts and feelings into my artwork.

I paint using things that already exist; this is what feels true to me. I need to reflect on culture, past and present, as an arbiter of interpretation. Others have created and have only touched on, merely scratched the surface. I then explore the subtle nuances of language and life. I need to explore, as I begin to paint, I let my mind wander into a free association. I define my oeuvre with compositions, which are provocative and whimsical. It is my intent to propel the viewer into scenes of seemingly unrelated subjects, contained within a captivating and complex sonatas. The simultaneous expressions are pop and edgy, esoteric and direct, unrelated and curiously similar, creating a visual language of paradox and juxtaposition. I want to provoke an emotional response from the viewer.
That is why I paint.

I paint with a beeswax-based paint mixed with pigment and kept molten while painting, this process is called encaustic. The word encaustic comes from the Greek meaning to “burn in”, which refers to the process of fusing the paint. This type of painting was used in the 5th century B.C. for weathering boats and coloring marble. Encaustic is the most durable of the artist’s paints because the beeswax is impervious to moisture. Thus, it will not deteriorate, yellow or darken and it can be polished to a high gloss for a brilliant finish. The paintings do not have to be varnished or protected by glass. The beauty in the paint is found in its immediate drying time. Because it cools immediately, the gesture and brush stroke are captured. Silkscreen is also incorporated into my work.

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2009 Mark Gallery, Englewood, NJ
2008  Linstrum + Matre Artworks, Atlanta, GA
2008 Kidder Smith Gallery, Boston,MA
2007, 2005 Galerie I.D., Geneva, Switzerland
2007 Kelly Webber Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2006 The Arts Scene, West Chester, PA
2005 Pop Rocks Gallery, Rehoboth, DE
2005 DeBottis Gallery, West Chester, PA
2005 Bettcher Gallery, Miami, FL
2004 Creekside Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2003 Museum Works Gallery, Aspen, CO
2001, 2000 Newbury Fine Arts Gallery, Boston, MA
2001 Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA
2001, 1999 Raab Gallery, Chestnut Hill, PA

Selected Group Exhibitions
2009 Wax Actual, Baltimore, MD
2007, 2006 Bridge Art Fair, Miami, FL
2007 Ruth Morpeth Gallery, Hopewell, NJ
2007 Heidi Cho Gallery, New York, NY February 2007
2006 Robert Roman Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ November 2006
2006 Oil + Wax (Encaustic Show) – Robert Roman Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2005 River Tree Arts, Kennebunk, ME July 2005
2005 Wallingford Art Center, Wallingford, PA May 2005
2005 Boon Gallery, Salem, MA June 2005
2005 Season, NBC TV Show “Joey,” Burbank, CA
2004 Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
2004 Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA
2004 Erie Museum of Art, Erie, PA
2005 Museum of Art at Johnston, Allegheny, PA
2005 Museum of Art at Altoona, Altoona, PA
2005 Sharadin Art Gallery, Kutztown, PA
2004 Baum Gallery of Fine Art, Conway, AR
2003 Encaustic Works 2003, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY
2003 – 2004 Season NBC TV Show “Friends,” Burbank, CA
2001 Encaustic Works 2001, Stone Ridge, NY
2001 Printmakers 2001, Widener University, Chester, PA
2001 Artforms Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2001 Woodmere Art Museum, Chestnut Hill, PA
2000 Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
2000 Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA
2000 CBGB, New York, NY
1999 Spector Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1999, 1998 56th Annual Painting Exhibition, Cheltenham, PA
1998 PS Gallery, Chestnut Hill, PA
1997 Alexy Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Museum Collections
Lancaster Museum of Art
Lancaster, PA

Corporate Collections
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA
AAA HeadquartersWilmington, DE
Philadelphia Transit Authority SEPTAPhiladelphia, PA
Lancaster Museum of ArtLancaster, PA
Environmental ResourcesManagement, Exton, PA
BankPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA
Big Brothers and Big Sisters ofAmerica, Philadelphia, PA
Gecko GraphicsWest Chester, PA
Foxchase Cancer CenterJenkintown, PA
Iron Hill BreweryNorth Wales, PA
Paul Turner ProductionsBryn Mawr, PA
Silver LeafClearview, AZ

Awards
2005 Top 5 Most Influential Artists Business 2 Business
2002 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship
2003, 2001 Rittenhouse Fine Arts Show – First Place Mixed Media
2002 Rittenhouse Fine Arts Show –Second Place Mixed Media
1998 Philadelphia Museum of Art Purchase Award
1998 Victor Klein Family Award
1995 Jaycee’s Art in the Park – Second Place Mixed Medium
1993 Meridian Bank – “Days of Hope” Art Contest
1992 Spruance – Daumier Art Award

Education
Beaver College Glenside, PA (1992)
Bachelor of Fine Arts City of London Polytechnic, London, England (1991)

*About Encaustic
Encaustic is a beeswax-based paint mixed with pigment and kept molten while painting. The word encaustic comes from the Greek meaning to “burn in’” which refers to the process of fusing the paint. This type of painting was used in the 5th century B.C. for weathering boats and coloring marble.

Encaustic is the most durable of the artist’s paints because the beeswax is impervious to moisture and will not deteriorate, yellow or darken. Upon completion of a painting, it can be polished to a high gloss for a brilliant surface. It is unnecessary to varnish or protect paintings by glass. The beauty in the paint is found in its immediate drying time. As it cools instantaneously, the gesture and brush stroke are captured. The spontaneous and indelible nature, with its ineffaceable outcome, make this an extraordinarily demanding medium. (Notably, it is the medium in which Jasper Johns paints.)

Schaller paints on birchboard which he first covers with gesso. The gesso is made from titanium white, marble powder, a special glue, and water. The gesso is heated and applied warm, after the first coat has cooled and dried another coat is added. Schaller applies four coats before painting with the encaustics.