Exploring Encaustic

Hi All!

Today I thought I would share my continued explorations with encaustic painting. It it so addictive to watch the wax reacting, the colours melting into one another. It is definitely challenging! The medium is unpredictable and hard to control yet so much fun!

For this piece I started with a base of stamped rice paper then experimented adding layers of colour and splashes over the top. It really has a spacey feel to it like a nebula or something and I like how the rice paper still peeks through.

These two miniature pieces are an experiment in using stencils with the wax and also incorporating fabric. I love how these turned out, they are definitely my favourite so far! 

I hope you like how these turned out! I can't wait until I find the time to try some more!

Bye for now xxxx

Encaustic Painting

Hello all!

This year so far has been a busy one but I thought I would pause a minute to share with you some new encaustic painting I have been exploring (having been bought the kit for Christmas) Encaustic is an ancient art form dating all the way back to Egyptian art 100-300 AD The word encaustic originates from the Greek word enkaustikos which means to burn in, and this element of heat is necessary for a painting to be called encaustic. It uses a mixture of beeswax and damar resin with different pigments mixed in. You use a hot pallet, working with melted wax and heat guns to melt and blend the different colours together.

I used wax a lot back at University to create sculptures so I feel like it is going back to an old friend and yet I have never attempted encaustic painting and working with a hot pallet holds new challenges for me. I was a little nervous to start with but I am starting to get into the flow of it now and I love it! It is quite addictive watching the wax react to the heat and pigments.

Here are a few photos of my attempts so far:

I love how you are able to carve into the wax and embed different objects and textures in it. I have also been experimenting adding ink and pastel pigment to colour the wax in between the layers. The possibilities of this medium seem endless and I am really excited to continue to explore where it will take me!

Bye for now xxx