Joe Conover

Joe Conover, a talented encaustic and mixed media artist based in Quincy, Illinois, brings a rich blend of curiosity, craftsmanship, and experimentation to his work. Born in 1935, Conover rediscovered his passion for art in 2000, just before retiring from a successful career in the newspaper industry. Since then, he has dedicated himself to exploring and pushing the boundaries of his most prolific medium—cold wax painting.

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Known for his abstract compositions and innovative techniques, Joe describes his artistic process as highly intuitive and texture-driven. “Wax is an excellent medium for putting colors, shapes, and textures together, abstractly, to evoke a thought or idea,” he explains. “The gratifying experience is combining sight, or color, and feel, or texture.”

He often experimented with fusing traditional techniques—such as dipping watercolor paper in wax or layering oil pastels over wax. These techniques create rich surfaces full of visual depth and tactile interest, often revealing hidden patterns or unexpected contrasts. 

 

Although mostly self-taught, Conover has studied with several respected artists. He honed his drawing and watercolor skills with Rose Camastro-Pritchett and explored monotype printmaking with Jason Mejer at Quincy University. His artistic development also includes workshops in encaustic painting with Russell Thurston and Ellen Koment in Santa Fe, and with Gina Adams in New York. He also studied cold wax and oil painting with Rebecca Crowell, etching at Anchor Graphics/Columbia College in Chicago, and monotype techniques with Bruce Waldman at the Robert Blackburn Studio in New York City. 

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Joe Conover’s artwork has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. His exhibitions include the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, Connecticut; Lessedra Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria; the Auburn Arts Association in Alabama; Gallery C in Dubuque, Iowa; and multiple venues in the Midwest, including the Quincy Art Center, Keokuk Art Center, Hannibal Art Center, Hannibal-LaGrange University, and John Wood Community College.​

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Explore Joe Conover’s gallery below to view his encaustic and mixed media artwork. Each piece is an expression of color, form, and texture.