There is a movement in the artworld to explore older and lesser known methods of picture making. Encaustic art has made a huge comeback and we cant wait to tell you all about it!
Historically, encaustic was used in a similar way to oil painting. The medium does share a few characteristics with oil paint. Today it presents itself as a multimedia super medium that can be used in combination with rice paper, gold leaf and an assortment of pigments, resins and powders to create unique and expressive artwork.
Encaustic painting, sometimes also called hot wax painting, is a process that involves heating a medium which you can mix with pigments to create an artwork. The medium usually consists of a combination of beeswax, dammar resin and/or oil. We stock individual components for you to mix your own mediums and we stock the convenient premixed mediums from Encaustry.
Heated up or melted medium can be mixed with powder pigments to add colour. Pigments will give you the best colour dispersion, but you can also use inks, oil paints, wax crayons or oil bars to colour your medium.
An integral part to traditional encaustic painting, is to burn or fuse each layer. Your medium is fused to your substrate by passing your heat source over your working surface. This creates an even top layer. If you are more adventurous, you can also mould and manipulate your layers for more texture effects. There really is no limit in how you can express with this versatile medium.
Today using a blowtorch or heatgun is an easy and safe way to prepare your molten medium. It is however still working with heated materials. We recommend practicing caution and wearing some protective gear when working with encaustic.
Most traditionally, encaustic artists work on wood panels as a substrate, but it’s not uncommon for more adventurous application on canvas and fabric. We stock Birchwood panels from Encaustry in a few different sizes as a working surface. Wood panels are favored for their heat resistance and rigidness when working with this hot medium.
Check out some examples of Marina Wilbraham, founder of Encaustry and encaustic artist. She regularly hosts encaustic workshops all over South Africa and teaches the art of hot wax painting to local artists. +
Hi there
My name is Jill
I am interested in doing this workshop.
Will you b doing more ?
Warm Regards
Hi Jill! Thanks so much for your message. We would love to host Marina Wilbraham for another Encaustic Workshop when she is back down in Cape Town.
Keep an eye on our events page, https://www.deckleedge.co.za/workshops-and-events/ or you join our mailing list for news and updates about our events and other promotions. 🙂
I love the results shown in your images . I am very keen to try this technique
This work is enticing!
Jillmackaill@gmail.com
I am very excited to learn more !