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| What Is Encaustic Art? | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 26 2005, 12:19 PM (892 Views) | |
 waxingsteve
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Oct 26 2005, 12:19 PM Post #1 |
Administrator
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Encaustic Art - Painting in Wax This art form started over 2000 years ago! It consists of applying molten wax to a surface. Modern Encaustic Art (E/A) takes different forms in methodology but recent years have seen the rapid growth of using modern technology. Instead of melting wax (usually beeswax) in pots and adding pigments, it is now common to buy blocks or sticks of wax with the pigments already added. Most now start by using a small iron, a specially designed version being best suited due to its reliable thermostat and general design. Other tools have been introduced, such as a Stylus, Scraper and Hotplates. It is best to start with the iron, a starter set of wax blocks, and glossy white card. Normally, this card (glossy on both sides) is A6 in size at the beginning of the learning curve. In basic terms, the waxes are applied to the iron at a low heat sufficient to melt them and then "wiped" onto the card. No pressure is required! Different movements of the iron produce different effects. Placing the iron on the wax and liftig it will produce effects similar to coral or foliage. The edge of the iron produces lines. The tip can be used for small detail. The Scraper is used to remove parts of the applied wax, to produce detail or emphasise parts of the picture. The Stylus has a variety of tips available, all of which serve to aid the production of fine detail, allowing drawing or painting. Hotplates are often used for larger pictures and there are hotplates which have been designed for E/A. E/A can incorporate stamps, printed clip-art, collage, or many other extras. It is limited only by the vision of the artist. No artistic training is needed and the greatest aspect of E/A is it being open to ALL! E/A is now used by card makers, fantasy artists, professional artists, and hobby artists and crafters around the world! When you've learnt enough for your own satisfaction, you can use surfaces such as watercolour paper, glass and canvas insteads of card. There are no limits or "rules" that must be observed, though some basic concepts may enhance your pleasure and produce more eye-catching paintings. Steve 
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 ayianna
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Jan 12 2006, 06:10 AM Post #2 |
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Junior Member
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I would like to add that encaustic art is not limited to molten wax applied with tools. Encaustic may be used in other ways - balls of wax may be rubbed against a surface to create texture or add color in a unique and mainly random pattern. Wax may be used in various dripping forms - in lines of dripped wax, droplets applied from heights, or in custom artist-created shapes. Encaustic waxes are also ideal for cold-process. As many people have asked me about cold-process encaustic in the past, I will do my best to describe it succinctly. During the creation process mentioned in the above post wherein pigment is mixed into beeswax, paint thinner, turpentine, or other white spirits are added to the wax in as much as a 1:1 ratio or as little as a 1:5 ratio for wax paints that can be applied with a paint knife, gloved hand, or other such tools. The consistency of the paint varies per pigment and the quantity of sprits added to the wax. The greater percentage of thinner added, the creamier the paints are. Here are some examples of the above 'alternative' uses of encaustic paints:    ~~~Ayianna |
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waxingsteve
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Jan 12 2006, 11:36 AM Post #3 |
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Administrator
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 for that, Ayianna  It's always great to hear about other techniques, especially when they are explained so clearly
The paintings demonstrate the effects superbly, too  Steve |
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11:48 AM Nov 25
