Dietlind Vander Schaaf grew up in Southern Maine and returned in 2010 , following many years in San Francisco . Vander Schaaf holds an MA in history and an MFA in Creative Writing . A member of the regional encaustic organization New England WAX ( NEW ) and International Encaustic Artists ( IEA ), her work has been shown throughout New England , as well as in New York , New Mexico , and Florida . It is held in private collections both nationally and internationally . She is the recipient of a Pace House Residency through Maine College of Art , where she teaches in the Continuing Studies program .