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Contents

• Introduction
• Beeswax and Dammar Resin
• Wax Blend for Encaustic

Introduction

Encaustic painting uses beeswax as its medium. Beeswax is probably the oldest known pigment binder, and the technique of Encaustic goes back to the Ancient Greeks where beeswax, resin and pigments were used to paint warships. The Greeks also perfected the technique for both easel painting and fully dimensional coatings for clay and marble sculptures. Encaustic has seen a revival in recent years, both for its ancient appeal as well as its adaptability to modern techniques. The technique requires the melting of the wax and resin, the addition of pigment to achieve the desired color, applying the paint while hot and then fusing each layer. Variations of formula, application and heat give the artist freedom. No other medium allows such tremendous textural possibilities. We give two basic recipes, one recipe combining beeswax and resin, and a second recipe combining beeswax with hard Carnauba wax. For more information about Encaustic Painting, we recommend the book, THE ART OF ENCAUSTIC PAINTING by Joanne Mattera, Watson-Guptill Publishing, available where fine books are sold.

Beeswax and Dammar Resin

Dammar Resin has a higher melting point than beeswax, so it should be melted first, then the beeswax added. Neither should be heated over an open flame, or to temperatures above 250 F. Stir to blend while melting, then pour the mixture into aluminum foil muffin pans for cooling. Although the dammar resin will contain some impurities, these will fall to the bottom of the mixture as it hardens. Each contained portion can now be stored to be melted again with pigments.


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Wax Blend for Encaustic

Using the same technique as above, melt the Carnauba Wax first, then add the beeswax and stir over heat until blended. Some artists feel this ratio is too high in Carnauba, and prefer to use less, even as little as 5 to 10% Carnauba.
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More Artist's Paint Recipes:

• Oil Paints
• Egg Tempera
• Casein
• Watercolor and Gouache
• Glue Paints
• Pastels
• Gesso
• Acrylic
• Dammar Varnish
• Native American Arts
• Color Mixing Guide