Also known as ‘hot wax painting’, encaustic uses a combination of molten beeswax and damar resin. The resin helps the wax to reach a harder cooled state. It is applied to a wood canvas in layers, each layer fused with the heat from a blow torch. Pigments can be added to the wax and certain other materials can be incorporated without affecting the resiliency of the work. The layering creates depth and a dream-like quality which is what attracted me to this technique.
Encaustic paintings are exceptionally durable. Unlike oil or acrylic, which can crack, yellow, or degrade over time, wax is impervious to moisture and highly resistant to environmental damage. Museum pieces dating from 100-300 AD, the Fayum Mummy portraits, still retain their vivid color and detail and are a testament to the longevity of this medium.
Encaustic paintings begin to soften or melt at around 150°F to 160°F (65°C to 71°C). This is the temperature range at which artists typically work with encaustic materials—keeping the wax molten for application and layering. What this means for collectors is that under normal conditions, an encaustic painting will last for generations. But similar to oils and acrylics, you don’t want to leave them in a hot car in the summer, store them in direct sunlight, or mount them above your wood-burning fireplace.
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