Ellen Koment: FAQs about wax encaustic.
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WAX ENCAUSTIC: What is it? Wax Encaustic is an ancient medium which has experienced a contemporary Renaissance. Encaustic Painting was practiced by Greek Artists as far back as the 5th century BC. Legend has it that the Greeks applied coatings of wax and resin to waterproof their ships, and that this led to pigmenting the wax for decoration. Today we can see Roman portraits in Wax Encaustic at the Metropolitan Museum, The Fayum Portraits, their colors as vivid and beautiful as ever. Koment's paintings are very traditional in their technique. Wax encaustic involves painting molten layers of pigmented beeswax to which a hardening agent has been added. As you progress, the layers are fused together with heat.applied with a small torch or a heat gun. This glazing process allows a depth and richness of color to be achieved, as well as bonding the layers together in a permanent manner. The painting is done on a wooden panel which has been coated with 8–10 layers of rabbit-skin glue gesso, creating a very porous surface for the wax to adhere to. The combination of correct technique, and care, enables these paintings to last indefinitely. However, they are susceptible to extremes of both heat and cold. They can never be put in direct sun, but will only begin to soften at temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. They should not be left in freezing conditions, or they may crack. Any environment where you are comfortable will be appropriate for your Encaustic Painting. We have shipped them all over the country, as well as abroad. History has shown that with care, these paintings can last for centuries. |
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