Encaustic art is created by melting wax and using it as a pigment medium in a painting. As a result, you’ll have a rich, vibrant, textural work of art that you can manipulate with a variety of tools indefinitely. Encaustic art is thousands of years old, despite the fact that many people associate it with melting crayons as a child. For those interested in seeing historical examples of the art form, several museums and art galleries have examples of encaustic art from places like Ancient Egypt and medieval Europe.
Encaustic waxes come in a variety of colors and textures. Beeswax is the traditional medium, but other types of wax can also be used. The majority of encaustic artists use pre-dyed wax blocks, but you can also buy pure pigments to color your own wax. For artists who do not want to use melting irons, some companies offer wax paints in a semi-liquid form.
The melted wax is daubed onto a sturdy backing and then spread to the desired thickness. It can be manipulated with brushes and other tools just like regular paint, or it can be allowed to cool so that the wax can be carved. In either case, heat lamps and similar tools can be used to soften the wax, allowing artists to work and rework it until they are satisfied with the final product.
Because wax painting can be quite messy, most artists prefer to wear protective clothing and use workbenches with barriers. Furthermore, molten wax art necessitates the use of heated tools such as specialty irons, so artists must be careful not to burn themselves. Because a piece of molten wax can cause a nasty burn, some artists prefer to wear gloves and long sleeves.
If you want to get started with encaustic art, you can start with a few basic tools and add to your collection as you go. To get started, you’ll need encaustic wax blocks and a heat-resistant canvas. Special encaustic paper is made by some companies, and your art store should have some on hand. You’ll also need an encaustic iron, as well as textural tools like brushes and a stylus to manipulate the wax as you lay it down.