Page 32 - Creating Whimsical Characters Using Simple Wood and Paper Forms, Wire, Paperclay, and Encaustic Medium

Before we apply the paint,

we need to secure Tuft in
a way that allows us to

keep steady heat on the
sculpture while continually

adding and thinning the
paint. Most of my
sculptures have holes

drilled in the bottom so
they can sit on an object

or a stand.

We built paint stands with extra long dowels to hold the sculpture. I
use large wooden blocks to hold the stand in place. I usually wrap

the stand and wooden blocks in wax paper secured with masking
tape to protect them from wax drippings.

After I’ve secured the sculpture, I place it under a heat lamp (the
kind used for keeping baby animals and reptiles warm). I live on

the coast where it’s cool and we get a lot of fog. If the ambient air

in your studio is warm, then you probably don’t need the heat
lamp.

I hold the heat gun with one
hand and apply the wax with the

other. I’ve found that an
Enkaustikos 1/2 inch Angled Hog
Bristle Encaustic Brush works

best for me.

I keep the heat gun set on low air

flow and medium heat. In these
photos, I’m holding the heat gun
really close to the sculpture to

get it into the shot, but I usually
hold it a little further away.

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