About Encaustic Painting
Fayum mummy portrait
Vibrant color, endless possibilities
Fayum mummy portrait
The word encaustic originates from Ancient Greek, and it means "burning in" or "to burn". Encaustice was the art of painting by burning in the colors. The oldest surviving encaustic panel paintings are Romano-Egyptian Fayum Mummy portraits from Egypt. From 100-300 AD.
Melting and painting
Vibrant color, endless possibilities
Fayum mummy portrait
Encaustic medium is a combination of beeswax and damar resin (tree resin). The medium is a clear wax and melted at 200 degrees, and is usually applied to a hard board for painting. Pigment is added to create vibrant colors. The pallet is usually a hot griddle, where the wax is melted and the brushes are heated. A torch or heat gun is use
Encaustic medium is a combination of beeswax and damar resin (tree resin). The medium is a clear wax and melted at 200 degrees, and is usually applied to a hard board for painting. Pigment is added to create vibrant colors. The pallet is usually a hot griddle, where the wax is melted and the brushes are heated. A torch or heat gun is used after each layer is put on to fuse the wax and the melt the colors together.
Vibrant color, endless possibilities
Vibrant color, endless possibilities
Vibrant color, endless possibilities
The wax comes pigmented, although you can always make your own. With carving tools, you can scrape back layers of wax to reveal colors from behind. You can make the color opaque or translucent. You can build up texture using dry bush techniques, and adding medium directly to the painting building layers. You can add paper, cloth, photos, and pour wax over objects creating sculpture and texture.
Winter Goldfinch
Vibrant color, endless possibilities
Vibrant color, endless possibilities
This little goldfinch, 8 x 8, painting is an example of building texture and the utilization of vibrant color. If you look close you can see where I used carving tools to help form his shape. Sometimes working smaller is harder than bigger, since the wax cools quickly and does not easily move or allow for much manipulation once it is cooled.