Encaustic is a waxed-based medium, that consists of beeswax and damar resin, a natural tree sap. The encaustic painting process involves heat at every stage of the process to apply and fuse the medium. The name Encaustic comes from the greek enkaustikos which means to burn-in.
Here you'll learn about encaustic painting techniques & tools. Whether you're a beginner learning to paint with encaustic or an experienced artist, I invite you to add your comments to share your knowledge and inspiration about art and All Things Encaustic.
Waxing On: Encaustic Exploration Encaustic, by its nature, pulls us–as artists, into new territory. This is one of the aspects of it that I love. There is a sense that the medium is always at least one step ahead of us, gesturing playfully to “Check this out!” or “What would happen if…?” At the beginning of my exploration with encaustic, …
Ironing over drips & drops | Encaustic Technique Read Blog Post »
My Encaustic painting, Station to Station, 18″ x 24″, is an example of the effect achieved by combining pastels (not oil!), used before the Encaustic medium is applied. This mixed media piece shows yet another reason to love Encaustic! Using Soft Pastels (not oil) before Encaustic medium is applied: First, apply Encaustic gesso (R&F makes an excellent one) on your …
I’ve taken five encaustic workshops with Andrea Bird and, in each class, there is always someone who hasn’t learned this technique. Everyone has the same wonderful reaction as the paper comes away from the wax and the ink is left behind. Tips for successful encaustic photo transfer: use images with a high level of contrast ensure the images you’re using …
The Artist Project Toronto 2011 Two hundred artists fill the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place this weekend (March 3-6 2011) for Toronto’s annual event, The Artist Project. Now in its fourth year, the Artist Project features a wide range of mediums, including installations and video art, as well as art chats and docent-led tours. I first heard about The …
10 Toronto Encaustic Artists at The Artist Project Read Blog Post »
Colored Gesso for Encaustic Painting So you think you know and love Holy Grail, the first gesso made for encaustic painting? Well look again – there are over a dozen colors now and artists are having a field day using them straight, tinting them with the white, and mixing them with each other. Colors were introduced in a 6 ounce …
Holy Grail colored gesso | Create an Underpainting for Encaustic Read Blog Post »
Encaustic painters are often asked if their work is archival. The typical response is that encaustic is an ancient painting technique, examples of early encaustic paintings are on display in museums around the world. The Origins of Encaustic Painting – An Ancient Medium The word encaustic comes from the Greek enkaustikos which means “to burn in” referring to the process …
The History of Encaustic Painting from Fayum Funeral Portraits to Today Read Blog Post »
Help for Beginners who want to learn how to do Encaustic Painting If you want to learn how to do Encaustic Painting you’re in the right place! Welcome. All Things Encaustic is a collaborative blog for artists working with encaustic. If you’re just beginning to paint with Encaustic medium start here. If your question isn’t covered here, review our blog posts or …
How to do Encaustic Painting | Frequently Asked Questions Read Blog Post »