Report of Encaustic Art demonstration given by Jane Carter on 19^th March 2013

Members of the Art group were given an opportunity to gain an awareness of an approach to painting unfamiliar to many. Jane Carter provided a practical demonstration of some of the processes she uses to produce cards and pictures using the encaustic wax process.

The word ‘encaustic’ means to fuse coloured pigments, usually wax-based, by means of a heat process. It is an ancient art form where coloured pigments are mixed with beeswax and, through the process of applying heat, moved about a surface to produce pictorial or patterned designs.

The coloured waxes for use by artists are sold in blocks each roughly the size of a matchbox.  Any number of colours can be obtained and blended to produce other tones and shades. Jane usually works on card sheets that have a glossy fine surface which prevents the wax soaking through as it would do so if ordinary paper was used.

An encaustic iron, similar to a travelling iron, is used to melt the wax and ‘paint’ the design. The tip, sides and flat base of the iron can be used to create different strokes and textures in the melted wax.  Finer control of the wax medium can be obtained by using a heated stylus in much the same way as a paint brush is used.  The stylus is similar to a soldering iron and can have interchangeable bits to extend the range of working techniques – e.g. scrapers, small flat iron shapes and wire brushes.

Another useful tool providing a different approach to the shaping of the hot wax is the hot air gun, similar to a small hair dryer.  The wax can be melted by the blast of hot air and moved about the surface using shapers, cocktail sticks – in fact anything can be used to shape the wax whilst it is kept in molten form by the hot air.  A particularly effective technique is to move the wax in its molten state by blowing through a drinking straw – this can create striking effects as the wax is moved across the surface. Care however, needs to be taken during this process to ensure that the straw does not melt as the wax is being worked!

Although not shown on this occasion, hot plates (e.g. household hostess-type hot plates) can be used on which the card is secured, allowing the wax to be moved about over the continuous heat of the hot plate.  Obviously whilst the card is secured to the hot plate, the wax remains in molten form, so care needs to be taken about how the design is applied and maintained, without all the colours running together in a molten mass!

After seeing different techniques demonstrated, members had the opportunity to try them out for themselves. Most of Jane’s work is used to produce cards to support the Pets As Therapy charity, and members of the group were pleased to be able to provide a generous donation towards the work of this charity by way of expressing their thanks for the opportunity to discover and experience a different approach to painting.

Using the tip, sides and flat of the iron           Using hot air gun and drinking straw

Report by Mike Carter