Discovering Encaustic: Painting with Wax and Light
For a long time I’ve been fascinated by encaustic paintings. There’s something captivating about their translucent layers and the way they catch the light, creating depth, glow, and a sense of mystery. As someone who primarily paints with oils and acrylics—often working in thin layers to capture that same elusive luminosity—I eventually decided it was time to explore encaustic for myself.
Encaustic painting is an ancient technique whose name comes from the Greek word meaning “to burn in.” The process refers to the way each layer of wax paint is fused to the layer beneath it using heat.
The paint itself is beautifully simple. Traditional encaustic paint consists of beeswax, pigment, and a small amount of damar resin, which hardens the wax and raises its melting point. Unlike other paints where solvents are used to thin the medium, encaustic relies on heat to melt and manipulate the wax.
At first I imagined encaustic paintings might be fragile—perhaps melting like a candle in a warm room or cracking easily. In reality, the opposite is true. Encaustic works are incredibly durable. Some encaustic paintings from ancient Egypt are nearly two thousand years old and still remarkably well preserved. As one artist once joked, “If your encaustic painting is melting, your house is on fire.”
Because wax forms a solid surface, encaustic is typically painted on rigid supports, most often wooden panels. The process itself is simple and rhythmic: paint a layer, fuse it with heat, then repeat. Each layer bonds to the one below, gradually building depth and texture.
One of the most exciting aspects of encaustic is its versatility. Artists can embed materials such as paper, photographs, or natural elements into the wax. They can carve into the surface, fill incised lines with colour, or draw directly onto the wax with oil pastels, charcoal, or oil paint sticks.
For artists who love working with transparent layers, encaustic offers something truly special. Light passes through the wax and reflects back through the layers, creating a luminous quality that is difficult to achieve with other media.
It’s this interplay of wax, light, and layered surface that gives encaustic its unique and timeless beauty.
Essential Supplies for Encaustic Painting
1. Encaustic Medium
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This is the base of all encaustic painting. Contains:
You can buy it pre-made or make it yourself. Uses:
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2. Pigment or Encaustic Paints
| To add colour to the wax.
Options include:
Many artists mix colour directly into encaustic medium. |
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3. Heat Source
| Heat is required to melt and fuse wax layers.
Common options:
For beginners, a heat gun + hot plate is usually enough. |
4. Heated Palette or Griddle
Used to keep wax melted while painting.
Typical setups:
- Electric griddle
- Heated encaustic palette
- Temperature controlled hot plate
Wax is typically kept around 180–200°F (82–93°C).
5. Brushes
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Natural bristle brushes are preferred because they tolerate heat. Best choice: • Hog bristle brushes Important note: Most artists dedicate brushes to colour families. |
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6. Rigid Painting Surface
| Encaustic must be painted on rigid supports.
Recommended:
Avoid flexible stretched canvas alone. |
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Helpful Tools
These help shape, texture, and manipulate wax.
Scrapers and Metal Tools
Used to move or smooth wax.
Examples:
- Metal scrapers
- Palette knives
- Putty knives
Clay Sculpting Tools
Great for carving and incising wax.
Used for:
- Scraping ridges
- Creating texture
- Incised line work
Silicone or Rubber Tools
Useful for pushing wax around without sticking.