In the last post, I talked about the best way to paint a smooth encaustic surface. In this post, I’ll introduce you to an alternative way to achieve a glossy smooth encaustic painting surface—the pour method. This method works exceptionally well for photo encaustic.
Supplies
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- Painting substrate – for the first time, start small
- Blue Painter’s Tape or HVAC tape (Aluminum Foil Tape Metal Insulation Tape for Ductwork)
- Encaustic Medium
- A level
- Parchment Paper or a silicone baking mat. These will work for a quick clean up and you won’t waste any overflow wax.
- A container with a handle for pouring
- A clay loop tool
Instructions
- Create a lip or dam around the sides of your panel with tape. Burnish the tape with your fingers all the way around to ensure a tight seal.
- Ensure that your work surface and panel are perfectly level. This is a very important step! Use shims as necessary.
- Protect your work surface with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper
- Heat up sufficient encaustic medium to cover your entire panel.
- Preheat your substrate using a heat gun, not a torch. Remember that painter’s tape and parchment paper are both flammable.
- Pour the molten encaustic medium onto the panel evenly covering the entire painting surface right to the corners
- Step away. Don’t move it or even bump the table until it has completely cooled
- When your poured wax is completely cooled, remove the tape and scrape the edges as needed with a clay loop tool
You now have a beautifully smooth encaustic surface.
An Encaustic Pour Demo
Here is an excellent demo video from R&F Paints. I’m more than a little envious of this clean and spacious studio!
Give it a try!
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on the pour method can you do multiple pours after the first dries?…thank you