What is Encaustic Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encaustic art is an old art form, it was used in Egyptian times.

The ancient Egyptians used beeswax as a material to paint pictures.

When bees wax becomes hot, it melts and melted wax can be used as paint. Typical ways of melting the wax for encaustic art include the iron, the stylus, the hotplate and the hot air gun.

 

 

 

Iron

Coloured wax can be melted directly on the base of the iron and literally ironed on to the page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stylus

A heated stylus can be used to melt and draw up wax into the tip and then used just like a pen to draw fine lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot plate

A piece of encaustic card laid on a hotplate becomes heated so that any wax placed on it becomes molten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot air gun

Wax already on the page can be worked by heating and blowing it at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are forty eight coloured wax blocks. Each colour has a name and number.

 Although encaustic artists may have used the full complement of colours, most find that they only use a few and mix them.

Dye is added to beeswax to make coloured beeswax blocks.

Each colour has slightly different properties when molten.  Generally, the darker colours are more viscous whereas the lighter colours flow more easily.

 

The revival of encaustic art is so recent that a typical work area may include many improvised and even household accessories like the hair dryer.

 

 

 

 

Much encaustic art is produced rapidly and the results are often extremely detailed. The full extent of this detail can be seen by enlarging the image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wax and heat resistant card is the perfect material for molten wax. Seven colours of card add a further dimension to the colour spectrum.

 

 

 

 

This does not stop artists experimenting with other types of surfaces to paint on to. Water colour paper creates an individual texture that can be torn and used for collage.

 

 

 

 

Because the encaustic artist can produce quick and detailed work, pictures can be hand painted and hand copied; every piece original. These can be crafted into cards, key rings, book marks, CD covers, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personalized workshops & courses can be arranged through The Bee Tree Encaustic Art Centre along with advice on materials. Study aids are available in book form and on video/DVD.