Page 10 - Wax & Words

Beeswax and Encaustic Medium

About the wax

Most encaustic artists use Encaustic Medium, which is beeswax
mixed with Damar Resin. That works fine for this project, too, but
I have come to enjoy working with pure white (clear) beeswax. It’s

softer than Encaustic Medium, but I don’t build up many multiple
layers – perhaps only two or three.

There is a certain aroma and texture to pure beeswax which I love.
One day, in my old studio, I had the door open and a bunch of
honeybees flew in, attracted by the beeswax I was melting!

I encourage you to try both pure beeswax and Encaustic Medium
and see what you like. The wax that we use in Wax and Words
provides a simple textural and visual enhancement to the
underlying collage elements and does not really serve as an image-

painting medium on its own.

Safety first

Never heat the wax above 200°F (93° C). You want the wax hot
enough to flow easily from your brush to the painting surface,
but not so hot that it smokes. Use appliances with temperature Several beeswax sources:
controls, and, again, have adequate ventilation. Use natural bristle • Swans Candles LLP
brushes which you can find at hardware stores. Synthetic bristles • Bulk Apothecary

can frizzle in warm wax. • Amazon
• R&F Encaustics
You’ll see much more in the video about waxing and encaustic TIP - If you haven’t worked with beeswax before, I’d suggest you start off
techniques a little later in the book. with a one-pound package of white (bleached) pellet beeswax

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