Using the Encaustic Iron with Heat-Resistant Sponges

If you’re not sure how to use the heat-resistant sponges and scrapies with the encaustic iron: here’s a free tutorial with lots of pictures.

This slideshow demonstrates various sponge painting techniques including drawing patterns in the wax, stippling, stamping, and dragging. You will also see how to use the rubber tipped scrappy tool to draw in the wax and how to clean your sponges.

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Different heat-resistant rubber sponges, Scrapy, texturing tool

How to cut the fine, white sponges: use an Exacto knife

How to cut the coarse, orange sponges: Use a pair of scissors.

Place card with wax on upturned iron and draw patterns in the soft wax with the sponge

Make a small palette of wax on a piece of card

Place painting card on the upturned iron and make shapes with the sponge

Make another palette with a different colour

Release the wax by placing the card on the upturned iron and pressing the sponge on the card.

Drag the donut with the edge through the soft wax

Add a small amount of wax directly with the crayon or block

Wipe most of the colour off with a piece of tissue paper

Create another palette with wax on a spare piece of card

Place the wax-laden donut on the wiped background and pull towards you

To make a bamboo shape: stop at several intervals, press and lift the donut, then place back on the card a few mm’s lower and drag again.

Use the edge of the donut to create stems and leaves

You can also use the big donut to make the bamboo shape

Paint the leaves with the edge of the donut

Use the Scrapy with a rubber tips to draw into the soft wax.

Put a piece of tissue paper on the upturned iron and press your dirty sponge into it. The wax will come off on the tissue. Repeat as needed.

Tutorial: Using the Encaustic Iron with Heat-Resistant Sponges:

Start with heat-resistant sponges and scrapy texturing tools.
cut coarse orange sponges with a pair of scissors
cut the fine white sponges with an exacto knife
use your encaustic iron upturned as a hot plate to heat the wax
use a spare piece of card to create a small palette of coloured wax
use the sponges and rubber tipped scrapy tools as shown to create different effects

About the Author
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About Thea Haubrich

Dutch artist Thea Haubrich studied at the Encaustic Academie in Germany to become a teacher of Encaustic. In 2004 she moved to British Columbia, Canada. Thea was a member of several art councils, the International Encaustic Artists and the South Okanagan group, the Rip Off Artists. In 2008 she was awarded active status with the Federation of Canadian Artists. Thea Haubrich passed away in September 2013.