The Ardest Gallery
25200 Grogan's Park Drive TX 77380
The Woodlands,, Texas 77380
United States
832-296-6723
www.ardestgallery.com

My painting "The Alchemy of Form" was accepted into this juried show and honored with the 1st Place Award.  My encaustic practice is a fluid mixing of mediums including molten wax (encaustic medium a blend of beeswax and damar resin), pastels and mark-making.  It is a dance of both revealing and concealing parts of the painting with often unexpected results bringing it all together.  The layering of wax and scraping back to reveal is where the magic happens.

"Abstraction" brings together a diverse collection of works spanning painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, digital media, textile, and beyond — united not by subject, but by the freedom to move past it. This exhibition celebrates the infinite ways artists translate emotion, experience, and idea into visual language unbounded by representation.
Whether bold or subtle, chaotic or meditative, each work invites viewers to look without searching for answers — and find something different every time.

GUEST JUROR- DEBORAH ELLINGTON
Deborah Ellington is an artist and educator with a career spanning K–12 and higher education, alongside an active studio practice. She holds degrees in Art Education from Albion College, an M.A. in Painting from the University of Michigan, and an MFA in Ceramics from Sam Houston State University.
Ellington has taught at all levels, including serving as a professor, department chair, and instructional dean within the Lone Star College system. She continues to teach fused glass workshops, sharing her expertise in design, color, painting, and mold making.
Her work is exhibited at Silver Street Studios in Houston’s Sawyer Yards, and she regularly participates in juried exhibitions.

The Ardest Gallery
25200 Grogan's Park Drive TX 77380
The Woodlands,, Texas 77380
United States
832-296-6723
www.ardestgallery.com

I am honored to have work accepted in "Material Matters". “The Needs of Nature”, 18”x18” mixed media including found objects and encaustic depicts cycles of nature from a Burr acorn to stately trees.

"Material Matters" strives to explore the dynamic nature of mixed media, bringing together artists from across mediums and disciplines to weave together a cohesive show celebrating materials. This group show will serve as a tribute to innovative methods that push boundaries of what art can be, and the stories that can be found within the materials themselves. 

Robert Benjamin Stiles (Benji) is a multidisciplinary artist and educator based in Houston, Texas. Born in New Orleans, he holds a BA in Art History from the University of St. Thomas and an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). His practice spans non-representational painting, sculpture, assemblage, and installation, often incorporating found and historical objects to explore materiality, form, and cultural resonance.

Stiles’ work is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and he has exhibited at institutions such as the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Blaffer Art Museum, where he participated in A Way to Mend, curated by Doug Welsh. Since 2020, he has presented five solo exhibitions, including shows at Hardy & Nance Gallery (2020), Lone Star
College (2021), G-Contemporary (2022), Reeves Gallery (2023), and Sheila Riggs Gallery in Baltimore (2025). His group exhibitions include Collect It for the Culture (2021), curated by Robert Hodge, where he exhibited alongside Rick Lowe, Ann Johnson, and Jamal Cyrus; The Big Show at Lawndale (2021); and the 37th Annual VAA Juried Exhibition, where his work was recognized by Harry Cooper, Head of Modern Art at the Smithsonian, as one of the top three works in the competition.

In addition to his studio practice, Stiles has curated exhibitions including Rise and Fall (Hardy & Nance Studios, 2020), Whole in Pieces (Monterroso Gallery, 2022), and Work in Play (Monterroso Gallery, 2025). He currently maintains a studio at Hardy & Nance in downtown Houston.

I am excited to have work selected as one of the artists for "Intersections" exhibiting at The Ardest Gallery in The Woodlands. The works in this show are thought provoking, unique and diverse exploring the intersections between artistic mediums, art & science, communities and cultures and more.....…. 

My piece is "and if the rain stops falling… then what?" is 18" x 18" x 2" encaustic.  It represents rain falling from the clouds but being prevented from making its way to the ground.  The ground below has then become stark, dry and desert like, unable to nurture growth.  It is a statement on the fragility of our Earth and that we need to pay closer attention to how we live everyday.  I am proud to have this work exhibited front and center as you enter the gallery.  The wonderful sculpture on the pedestal just below my work is by artist Emily Rensick.

Take the time to visit if you are in the area. This outstanding gallery showcases artist of varying mediums and prices.

My work is now available from The Rug Queen on Main Street in downtown Marble Falls.  Michele Hart has recently relocated to 216 Main Street and along with her amazing fine rugs she has chosen to show a select group of artists.  Michele can help you select heirloom rugs, fine art and much more.

La Ti Da / The Rug Queen
216 Main Street
Marble Falls, TX 78654
512-773-7777

FACEBOOK: The Rug Queen

Web: therugqueen.com

Instagram: latidadeluxe

Visit Echo in Blanco at Barn E in Blue Hills and you will find a selection of my miniatures. I am pleased to once again have my work included amongst the treasures that can be found at Echo in Blanco.  www.bluehillsatroundtop.com 

Echo in Blanco now has a selection of my miniatures at the gallery in Blanco.  With gift giving time nearing, these make wonderful treasures!  Stop by to seem these and all the wonderful new things they brought back from Round Top!

My good friends Linda & John of Echo in Blanco have taken a selection of my Miniatures along with them for Antiques Week at Blue Hills in Round Top Texas, October 5 - 19. Antiques Week is an amazing cornucopia of sights, sounds and treasures.  There is so much to see!  I am excited to be a part of it this year by having my work available through Echo in Blanco.

If you have just purchased one of my PASTEL with COLD WAX MEDIUM paintings, you may be wondering how to care for it.  I am often asked about the durability of my pastel and cold wax medium paintings. The answer, as with all fine art, these should be handled with care.

Each piece is created from layers of pastel and cold wax medium with the final layer being cold wax medium. 

Heat, Cold, Dampness:  Fine art – avoid extremes of heat, cold and dampness. The painting is fine with normal temperatures in a climate-controlled location, but you should avoid leaving it in a hot car for any length of time.

Cold wax is an archival medium that continues to cure over time. The fresher the painting, the more delicate the surface.  As with any fine art you should avoid scratching it with any sharp object.

Cleaning – you may periodically clean and “polish” the surface with a soft, clean cloth.  Gently buff  the surface to remove any dust and to bring up the sheen.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy your new acquisition for many years to come.

Cold Wax Products – I use two different brands – feel free to research their properties.

Jacquard – Dorland’s Wax Medium

Gamblin Cold Wax Medium