The Most Frequently Asked Questions about EncausticsIf you can't find your answer here you can read other questions or post your own on the R&F Forum.What is the difference between using medium as opposed to just beeswax?What can I use the beeswax for?What is Impasto Modeling Wax, what is it used for, and why use it instead of medium?What is paraffin and how is it used?What supports can I paint encaustic on?Can I paint encaustic over or in combination with acrylics?Can I paint encaustic over or in combination with oil paint?How do I ship my encaustic work?How do I store or clean my encaustic workCan/Should I varnish my encaustic work?Can/Should I frame my encaustic work behind glass?
What is the difference between using medium as opposed to just beeswax?
Medium is made up of beeswax
and damar resin. It can be used as an extender for colors, as an isolator
between layers in order to create a sense of depth, and for dipping paper or
objects. What the Damar Resin does:
Return to TopWhat can I use the beeswax for? Beeswax can be used for sizing supports (if used thinly) as a cheaper alternative to medium. It can also be used when artists want to make their own medium. Return to TopWhat is Impasto Modeling Wax, what is it used for, and why use it instead of medium?Impasto Modeling Wax is made up of beeswax and microcrystalline waxes (petroleum based wax).
Please note: Impasto Modeling Wax will
oxidize and yellow over time. It is recommended that you do not use it as a top
layer (unless you want those results). Keep in mind that any transparent color
used over it will have the impasto undertone that may eventually yellow. What is paraffin and how is it used?Paraffin is a white wax that comes from the refining of petroleum. We recommend that it be used only for cleaning brushes. It works by leaching out the pigment in the brushes. It should never be used for painting or in combination with encaustics because it is too brittle and can crack and chip off. It also shrinks dramatically when it cools, making it very inflexible. (We suggest keeping encaustic brushes just for encaustic painting, but if you want to use them for another medium, first remove the paraffin with use warm vegetable oil, than wash with soap and water) Return to TopWhat supports can I paint encaustic on?Encaustic should be painted on a rigid, absorbent, and heat resistant surface such as …
Please Note: When wax gets cold, it shrinks and becomes more brittle, making it more vulnerable to damage, therefore, if you are uncertain if a surface is suitable for the encaustics we recommend a freezer test. Prepare the surface as you intend to use it (fusing well), then place it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Pull it out and hit at it with a hammer and scrape at it with a chisel or scraper. If it is coming off in big chunks and doesn’t seemed to have absorbed into the surface then it is not compatible with the encaustic. If it is staying on the surface and absorbed into it, this is a pretty good indication that it is compatible, although not guaranteed. Return to TopCan I paint encaustic over or in combination with acrylics?No!! Acrylic is not a porous enough ground for encaustic. Also, acrylics should not be used in combination with encaustic since it is water-based and not compatible with wax. Return to TopCan I paint encaustic over or in combination with oil paint?Please see our Spring 1998 Newsletter for technical information on oil and wax. Return to TopHow do I ship my encaustic work?We put together Technical Data Sheet about this. It is in PDF format and available at the following link. Shipping Encaustic Return to TopHow do I store or clean my encaustic work?Encaustics should be cared for as you would for any fine art piece. Work can be stored, wrapped in waxed paper and bubblewrap (be sure to face the bubbles out so they don’t make imprints in your work) at room temperature and out of any direct sunlight. Encaustics can be wiped clean with a soft cloth or paper towel. If the piece is especially dirty, it can be wiped with a water-dampened cloth. Return to TopCan/Should I varnish my encaustic work?No, varnish will partially dissolve the wax, “reactivating” the surface. In addition, encaustic has the natural appearance of a varnished surface (the damar resin creates a “varnish within”) and can be buffed (rubbed with a soft cloth or paper towel) to enhance that quality Can/Should I frame my encaustic work behind glass?The greatest attribute of encaustic is its’ exquisite surface quality. A good deal of this gets lost when the painting is framed behind glass. Although, the glass does protect the surface from denting or scratching, but if the painting is properly exhibited/stored/shipped, this danger is minimized. Almost all encaustic works exhibited today are done without being glassed. We suggest, that only when the painting is done on paper that is not completely dipped in the wax, or if it is extremely old (as in the case of the Fayum portraits), should it be glassed. In addition, framing behind glass can intensify the heat (particularly from gallery lights or sunlight) causing a greenhouse effect, that could soften or even melt the wax. Return to Top |
