ENCAUSTICS

Encaustic is a versatile and forgiving medium, allowing you to “undo” almost anything. It’s the process of painting with a mixture of beeswax, resin, and pigment to make paintings or collage with wax instead of glue. Encaustic is compatible with most types of media. Consider combining several techniques to find your own unique look, and don’t be afraid to experiment!

GO WITH THE FLOW

You can buy commercial encaustic paints in many colors and thin them with any amount of clear encaustic medium to get the consistency you want and to extend your paint. Simply heat your paint in tins or directly on a pancake griddle at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit and use natural-bristle brushes—synthetic will melt. After you paint on each layer of wax, it must be fused with heat so that it bonds to the layer beneath—usually with a heat gun or torch.

STEP 1 Paint stripes using four to five different colors of encaustic paint. Overlap your stripes a little when painting to create secondary colors.

STEP 2 Fuse the stripes with a heat gun while moving around on the board until you create a “landscape.”

STEP 3 After the wax has cooled you can add more color and fuse again or use a stylus or dull pencil to carve lines into the wax.

STEP 4 Use the heat gun to blow a “hole” in the wax to create a sun or moon in your landscape.

STEP 5 This technique helps beginners get a good feel for working with wax. Try using it to suggest tree branches, reflections on water, or other organic shapes.