Page 11 - Wax and Clay Talismans
P. 11
TIPS FROM PART TWO VIDEO More about painting with beeswax
in mixed media projects
• Wipe the excess melted wax on the edge of the can
before painting it on the talisman face Setting up
• Brush lightly across the top surface, not down in You can easily create a beeswax melting work space
the crevices on a sturdy work table. You will need a place to plug
• Beeswax will lose its cloudiness as it cools in your griddle or hot plate or electric skillet and
adequate ventilation. I cover my work surface with
brown craft paper. Before I start, I cover the griddle
with aluminum foil to keep the drips of wax off the
metal surface.
About the wax
Most encaustic artists use Encaustic Medium, which
is beeswax mixed with Damar Resin. This works fine
for this project, but I have come to enjoy working
with pure white (clear) beeswax. It’s softer than
encaustic medium, but I don’t build up multiple
layers – perhaps only two or three. I encourage you
to try both and see what you like. The wax provides
a 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
Above: My simple setup for melting wax hot enough to flow easily from your brush to the
beeswax on a foil-covered griddle with painting surface, but not so hot that it smokes. Use
temperature controls appliances with temperature controls, and, again,
have adequate ventilation.
Talisman eBook: Page 11