Working with a hot plate and encaustic paints, create a stamped background using a chipboard letter plate. Create collage papers or journal pages with transparent, waxy layers of color.
anodized aluminum plate
grill thermometer
encaustic paint sticks
nitrile rubber gloves
chipboard letter stamp plate
sketch paper
printing barren
1-inch (25mm) foam brush
acrylic paint
Heat the anodized aluminum plate to working temperature of 150°F (66°C). Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature so it doesn’t get too hot. Apply encaustic paint sticks directly onto the hot plate with an even pressure, moving around to melt the paint in a square shape.
Transfer the encaustic paint onto the chipboard stamp plate while it is hot.
Place the chipboard stamp onto the melted encaustic paint and press the back of the stamp. Rub the back of the stamp with your hands to transfer the melted paint.
This shows the hot encaustic paint on the chipboard letter stamp plate.
Place a piece of sketch paper onto the hot plate, then place the painted stamp over the top and use a printmaking barren to press the image into the paper.
This is the final printed stamp image on the paper. It’s not a perfect print, but that’s okay. It’s because the chipboard stamp has a lot of texture left from many paint layers covering the letters. Repeat the process to add more wax stamped onto the paper.
Place the painted paper face up over the heated aluminum plate and scribble over the top using an encaustic paint stick.
Fill in the white background with color. Dip a 1-inch (25mm) foam brush into fluid acrylic paint mixed with water and brush it across the surface.
Continue to paint the wash until the page is completely covered with paint.