Atonement

by Johanne A Lamarche

“I have always been a creative person at heart. Though my formal training was in science, much of my artistic development has been self‑taught, shaped by curiosity and a deep desire to explore materials and mark‑making. Born in Canada, I moved to Philadelphia to complete a residency in periodontics at Penn. My years as a dental surgeon sharpened my spatial awareness, sensitivity to line, and habit of close observation, qualities that now inform my visual language. Two decades as a volunteer docent with Art Goes to School strengthened my connection to art and eventually led me into the studio. When I discovered cold wax and oil, it felt as though my creative and professional lives converged. I traded traditional brushes for improvised tools reminiscent of surgical instruments, using them to build, carve, and scrape back layers that reveal texture, transparency, and luminosity. The process is intuitive and exploratory, keeping each painting open to possibility. In times of political or social turmoil, my palette and gestures shift. Incised lines can become a release of fear, grief, or helplessness, while my final color choices move toward grounding, peace, and hope. The work holds a tension between internal and external forces, seeking solace and beauty amid chaos. My paintings are included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe, as well as private and corporate collections across the United States, Canada, and Europe. I have always been a creative person at heart. Though my formal training was in science, much of my artistic development has been self‑taught, shaped by curiosity and a deep desire to explore materials and mark‑making. Born in Canada, I moved to Philadelphia to complete a residency in periodontics at Penn. My years as a dental surgeon sharpened my spatial awareness, sensitivity to line, and habit of close observation, qualities that now inform my visual language. Two decades as a volunteer docent with Art Goes to School strengthened my connection to art and eventually led me into the studio. When I discovered cold wax and oil, it felt as though my creative and professional lives converged. I traded traditional brushes for improvised tools reminiscent of surgical instruments, using them to build, carve, and scrape back layers that reveal texture, transparency, and luminosity. The process is intuitive and exploratory, keeping each painting open to possibility. In times of political or social turmoil, my palette and gestures shift. Incised lines can become a release of fear, grief, or helplessness, while my final color choices move toward grounding, peace, and hope. The work holds a tension between internal and external forces, seeking solace and beauty amid chaos. My paintings are included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe, as well as private and corporate collections across the United States, Canada, and Europe.”