Encaustic painting

Encaustic, also known as hot wax painting, is an ancient method of painting.

It involves using a heated encaustic medium to create artworks. The molten medium is then applied to a surface and manipulated.

The simplest encaustic medium is made by adding pigments to wax.

Metal tools and special brushes are used to manipulate and shape the medium as it cools. Heated metal tools, including spatulas, knives and scrapers, can be used to manipulate the medium after it has cooled onto the surface. Additionally, heat lamps, torches, heat guns, and other methods of applying heat are used by encaustic artists to fuse and bind the medium.

Because encaustic medium is thermally malleable, the medium can also be sculpted, and/or, materials can be encased, collaged or layered into the medium.

Royal Academician Terry Setch has been painting in encaustic for over 40 years, and here he demonstrates some of the wax-wrangling techniques he uses to create his multi layered and richly textured paintings.

Pure artist Sally Bramble is a master of the medium. View her website for more details.