Noted artist Thomas Swanson will demonstrate his unusual painting techniques at Pasaquan on May 6

Buena Vista, GA: Atlanta artist Thomas Swanson, who works in the ancient art of encaustic, or wax painting, will be on hand at St. EOMs Pasaquan on Saturday, May 6, to help celebrate Pasaquans season opening and to participate in the effort to preserve the internationally recognized visionary art site located near Buena Vista.

Swanson, who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from the Parsons School of Design in New York City, will demonstrate his unusual artistic approach from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. on that day. Swanson is a longtime supporter and advocate of Pasaquan. He recently stated, I simply want to do whatever I can to bring attention to the value and merit of preserving Pasaquan. If my being there to demonstrate my own method of work as an artist will assist in doing that, Ill be more than pleased to help out.

As an artist, Swanson has participated in eight previous museum group exhibitions; forty-one private, university, and non-profit exhibitions; and twelve solo gallery exhibitions. Among the many corporate collections of art which hold examples of Swansons work are Raines & Raines, Inc., New York; The Sterling Drug Corporation, Philadelphia; The Frito-Lay Company, Dallas; and Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta.


Encausic or wax painting, as practiced by Thomas Swanson, is the process of applying molten wax colors to a specially prepared painting surface. The encaustic process is thought to have originated over 2 millennia ago, probably in ancient Egypt. According to an online encyclopedia, the very simplist encaustic mixture can be made by adding ground pigments to natural beeswax, but there are several other recipes - some containing other types of waxes damar resin, linseed oil, and other ingredients that can be employed in creating a painting. Metal tools and special brushes are used by the artist to shape the hot waxy paint before it cools; or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax even after it has cooled and hardened onto the surface. Today, tools such as heat lamps, heat guns, and other methods of applying heat to the painting as it progresses allows the artist to extend the amount of time needed to work with the material. Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as painted. Other materials can be encased in or applied to the transparent or semi-transparent waxy painting medium, thereby creating an effect of great depth and intriguing radience.

During 2006, St. EOMs Pasaquan will be open for visitors on the first Saturday of each month beginning May 6 and ending November 4.

Opening hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on each of those days.

Admission to Pasaquan is $5 per person (there is no charge for children 5-years-old and younger).