Encaustic painting is done with beeswax and pigments.
Encaustic painting is an ancient art form that uses colored waxes. The portraits of mummies demonstrate that the technique was used more than 3,000 years ago by the Egyptians. In those days, artisans used pokers to apply and model the wax, but improvements to the technique made it possible for amateur artists to create encaustic paintings using an encaustic pen. Incorporating a picture into an encaustic painting is a simple project if you have the necessary materials and tools.
Instructions
1. Select the picture you want to incorporate into your painting. Decide on the painting surface. Encaustic painting is suitable for surfaces such as canvas, paper or wood.
2. Sketch the contours on your painting surface, or enlarge the picture to the size of your painting and use tracing paper to transfer the design on the canvas. Alternatively, glue the picture on the working surface. The wax will protect the picture from mold and moisture.
3. Prepare wax using 95 percent beeswax and 5 percent damar resin, which prevents the painting from whitening when exposed to cold temperatures. Heat the wax on the electric encaustic pallet. It will keep the temperature of the wax between 160 and 220 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal for painting. If the temperature falls under 160 degrees, the wax is difficult to work with. If you don't have an encaustic pallet, use an electric pancake griddle or a pan over a heat source.
4. Decide on the colors for each section of your picture. Prepare each colored wax by adding the tempera or natural pigments to the wax. Put each color in a section of the encaustic pallet. If using pans, use a different pan for each color and keep an eye on the temperature of the wax.
5. Apply the first color of wax using one of the slotted brushes that comes with an encaustic pen. Model, smooth and scoop the wax with the pen. Experiment with each of the tips to see what type of textures and effects you obtain using them. Fill each individual section of your picture with the colors you prepared in Step 3. If you glued the picture on your painting surface, you can apply colors over it or simply apply transparent wax so the picture will be visible under the wax layer.
6. Mix clear wax with 5 percent damar resin and 5 percent turpentine to make a glaze for your painting. Apply the glaze using a brush.
