Here are some more images from the International Encaustic Artist’s retreat from last weekend! I learned several techniques from my new friends who were extremely generous with their time and knowledge. I ended up combining two techniques to create the works pictured here. I’m so happy that I had the presence of mind to take photos of the progression. I think it’s exciting to share all of the layers that go into making art in this medium and how different they look in various stages.
The first piece below is a good example of a technique shared by Lissa Rankin, where she impresses fresh plant matter into the wax while it’s still warm. Lissa makes it look so easy but I managed to get wax all over my hands and burn myself a bit in the process. I love the way it came out so I’ll obviously need to do a little more practice!
Emerging, 12″ x 12″, Encaustic, mixed media
The piece below shows the second part of my technique combination, taught to me by Gail Steinberg. Gail uses a coat of joint compound on her support first to create texture, then covers it with wax. I combined this technique with the one Lissa taught and am very happy with the results!
Bloom, 12″ x 12″, Encaustic, mixed media
6 comments
May 16, 2007 at 7:36 pm
cyndy Goldman
Linda — your work and photos from the retreat are beautiful! thanks for posting them! i learned a lot from Lissa’s techniques too and am doing some stencil experiments now. I have some joint compound now and have yet to get my hands in there and try that too! Lots of luck with finishing up the studio! Waiting for the next phase! Cyndy
November 11, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Jenell
Beautiful work! I am really excited about this technique. I am an acrylic and watercolor artist. Can you mix acrylic paint with the wax to get the desired colors or must you use the color blocks?
I have order this book and one other and am anxious to try this. The transparency and depth is what I really love!
November 12, 2008 at 12:40 am
embracingencaustic
Hi Jenell,
Thanks for you kind words about my work! To answer your question, wax and acrylic are incompatible. For the wax paint you mix beeswax, resin and dry pigments. My book has step-by-step instructions on how to mix the wax medium and paint. I hope you enjoy it!
Take care,
Linda Womack
http://www.embracingencaustic.com
February 12, 2009 at 10:13 am
Deb Hickey
Hi Linda
I am a beginning encaustic worker and extremely excited about the possibilities of using beeswax in my work. I am a mixed media artist primarily working with photographs and collage. I started with photo-transfers on to wood because I like the texture. Then began to carve into wood and finally added beeswax and encaustic to the medium. The painting I’ve done has been with acrylic but knew that acrylic and wax don’t mix so now I use photographs with oil pastel. At times I want to use chalk pastel, pen, and pencil. I was looking for a fixatif to secure the pencil etc to the board before I put the wax on. Found a Damar Retouch Varnish Spray that just might work. (experimenting now). Wanted to know if you had any other suggestions to fix the pencil to board before applying the wax (don’t want the pencil to smudge). Also I tend to get many small bubbles (I use a heat gun only and in a circular motion as you suggested) and was wondering if by using an iron I can get rid of the bubbles. I’d prefer the smoothest application possible.
Thanks for any and all info you can give me
Deb Hickey
(I do have your book and absolutely adore it)
February 19, 2009 at 12:43 am
embracingencaustic
Hi Deb,
I’m so glad you are enjoying my book! I don’t know much about fixatives because I don’t use them myself, but if you can find one that isn’t acrylic based AND doesn’t completely seal the wood so it’s no longer porous, then it should work. You just have to be sure the wax still has something to grab onto. Another option might be to draw on to tissue paper with your pastel or pencil then place it on the wood pastel side down. Paint clear encaustic medium over the top and fuse it gently with a heat gun, encasing the pastel between the wood and the tissue paper. The tissue paper will be rendered transparent by the wax. I have not tried this myself but it seems like that would solve your problem, except for having to draw backward of course! As for the bubbles, you are probably moving the heat gun before the wax is completely liquid. I work on a small section at a time and basically preheat on the first pass then go over it again right away and that’s when the bubbles come out. People think they can iron wax flat like you iron clothes, but and iron leaves its own mark and rarely leaves the surface completely flat. I hope this helps! Linda
May 6, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Carolyn kinnison
I am looking for a simplified explaination of what exactly encaustic painting is. Is it just bees wax, resin, pigment mixed together, then melted into a design ?? sorry for the dumb Q, I really want to know. Anyone ?? I do work with plaster, and I got VERY happy at the prospect of using wax with the plaster. Tell me more….!!!!???? carolyn