Acrylic Illuminations

Encaustic, or wax, is a beautiful medium whose use in art can be dated to early Egypt. Wax, when used in painting, imparts a magical sheen, sensual warm refraction, and tactile surface with subtle translucent qualities. There are some downsides to working with wax. Wax can pose a challenge for transport and storage with its delicate surface. Acrylic, however, can easily replicate wax effects while remaining nontoxic and offering more stable surfaces. This technique offers the simplest faking method: using layers of matte gel, with suggestions for enhancements at the end.

Materials List

Paint

One or more acrylic paint colors

Substrate

Any primed painting surface

Tools

Painting knife or other spreading tool, paintbrush

Products

An acrylic matte gel

For clean-up

Water, water container, paper towels or rags

Using one or more paint colors, create an underpainting using dark and bright colors, since they will eventually be muted, lightened or veiled with subsequent layers.

Apply matte gel generously, using a knife, spatula or other application tool. Cover the entire surface or apply it to specific areas. Apply thicker for more veiling or thinner for more transparency. Since it is difficult to ascertain the gel’s transparency while wet, optionally test the application on a scrap painting with similar colors to your underpainting, letting it dry fully for accurate results. You can either smooth out the gel or increase texture with the knife. Use heavier gels for ease in smoother applications, while softer gels offer a buttery quality.

Finished Example

Here matte gel is applied to selected areas, showing as cloudy or translucent, leaving parts of the underpainting uncovered. Optionally continue painting and/or repeat another matte gel layer. Alternate paint and gel layers until satisfied.

Ideas

Heavily dilute paint color with water to create a wash. Apply over the matte gel layer while either wet or dry. Manipulate the color into the wet gel for softer edges as shown in Technique 18.
See Technique 16 for another fake wax effect using thin layers of paste, or the final example in Technique 30 using a deep pour.
For a custom formula try adding these other ingredients to the matte gel: 1) Mix in gloss gel for more transparency. 2) Add Interference Blue to enhance refraction. 3) Add small amounts of Interference Gold, Iridescent Gold, or Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold to mimic the yellow-gold color of natural wax. 4) Add medium or water to decrease texture or work with thinner layers.

A fake encaustic effect is obtained here by alternating thin layers of polymer medium gloss with thin layers of Fine Pumice Gel, while paint and drawing materials were applied in between.

TECHNIQUE 20

Fake Wax

Materials List

Finished Example

Ideas