About encaustic

Encaustic is an ancient medium treasured for its luminosity, layering capabilities and unpredictable nature. It is the oldest painting medium still in use today, dating back to ancient Greece (1000 B.C.)!  In the late 1800’s, thousands of encaustic paintings called the “Fayum Portraits” were unearthed from burial chambers in Egypt and were found to be in pristine condition, a testament to the longevity of encaustic work.

Encaustic is a natural medium and speaks directly to one’s senses. The surface is exotic to the touch and the aroma of honey and beeswax speaks directly to one’s senses. Encaustic can be modeled, layered, sculpted, textured and even combined with collage materials, making it a very versatile and spontaneous medium.

Encaustic is a wax-based paint comprised of beeswax, damar resin (to add hardness and shine) and pigment (powdered or oil pigments). It is kept molten on a heated palette, applied quickly to rigid panels and reheated to create a durable, archival surface.  The medium exhibits as thick, lush and sculptural. To ensure a permanent bond, one layer is fused to the previous layer using a heat source such as a heat gun or blow torch.  The surface can also be scraped and excavated to reveal the history of past layers. The resulting durable enamel-like surface dries quickly and is impervious to moisture, mildew, dust, shrinkage, darkening, fading, yellowing and cracking (unless the artwork is exposed to freezing temperatures or the support is not rigid enough).

Encaustic paints are a very durable form of painting when properly cared for.  If a painting is placed in a warm room in your home it will NOT melt… the smell of beeswax will simply be elevated and, as with all artwork, avoid hanging your encaustic painting in direct sunlight or leaving it in a vehicle for any prolonged period of time in extreme hot or cold weather. (The melting temperature of wax is 165 degrees Fahrenheit so if your painting is melting in your home, you have bigger problems!)

While an encaustic painting is curing in its first year or if exposed to the cold, it may develop a white cloudy film called “bloom.”  This is a natural process and can be eliminated and the original luster restored by simply buffing the surface with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth using small circular motions and light pressure.  Special care must be given around textural or three dimensional effects on the painting. As time goes by and the wax cures and hardens, buffing may not be necessary as it will keep its polished look. If you must transport your painting in hot or cold weather, cover the entire wax surface with wax paper, then cardboard, and some form of insulation.  When the painting is at room temperature, unwrap the painting, remove the wax paper and buff if necessary.  Encaustic paintings do not need to be varnished or protected by glass; an occasional dusting or light polishing will continue to preserve its soft, satiny sheen. 

In short, care for your encaustic art just as you would any piece of fine art and it will last for centuries.