What Is Encaustic?

Encaustic is painting with a combination of Bees Wax, Damar Resin and Pigments. It is also known as hot wax painting. When working with encaustic, the artist is working from hot to cold. The wax mixture is melted and goes on hot, cools and then is fused with a heat source (hot air gun, iron or torch.) The mesmerizing part for me is the fusing – you have an idea that you started with & the heat and mixture of the colors decide to dance together. I love the dimensional quality that encaustic brings & the beeswax smell in my studio. Encaustic pieces require special care. For example, they need be kept out of direct sunlight and I personally like to buff them with a soft cloth, as needed. 

I also work with cold wax, which is not encaustic. Cold wax medium is a wax that has been combined with other solvents. It has a paste-like consistency and gets mixed with oil paint or powdered pigment.  Cold wax gives a similar look as encaustic and it is a wax, but they are very different process. Cold wax is never heated and will dry naturally. Cold wax pieces are also very durable when complete. I enjoy the different matte finishes that it brings to a piece and the way it blends. 

I enjoy sharing this medium – contact me if you’re interested in stopping by the studio to see the process in action! 

This is the general picture for encaustic:

• First, I make the base medium - bees wax and resin melted together and filtered 

• Next, I make colors from powered pigments or highly concentrated remade paints from Enkaustikos or R and F Encaustic 

• I use an encaustic gesso treated board to paint on

• I build up layers of the medium to give the depth and opacity (personal preference)

• I like to keep my surface areas smooth (also personal preference) as encaustic has such a wide variety of applications and styles – collage, photos, transfers, 3D effects, sculpture & texture.