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BEFORE YOU GO ON:
        BASIC TECHNIQUE - USING 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.


        I encourage you to try both pure beeswax and Encaustic Medium and see
        what you like. The wax that I usually use 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                                                                              My easy setup for small encaustic collages - a
                                                                                                  griddle with thermostat, tuna cans, natural bristle
        Never heat the wax above 200°F (93° C). You want the wax hot enough                       brushes in a well-ventilated room.
        to flow easily from your brush to the painting surface, but not so hot that
        it smokes. Use appliances with temperature controls, and, again, have
        adequate ventilation. Use natural bristle brushes which you can find at
        hardware stores. Synthetic bristles can frizzle in warm wax.



                                     Several beeswax sources:

                                     •  Swans Candles LLP
                                     •  Bulk Apothecary
                                     •  Amazon
                                     •  R&F Encaustics
                                        TIP - If you haven’t worked with beeswax
                                        before, I’d suggest you start off with a one-
                                        pound package of white (bleached) pellet
                                        beeswax
                                     •  ••••••••              ••••••••       •••••••••





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