Encaustics

Encaustic painting has been used and survived thousands of years. The Egyptians used encaustic to paint realistic portraits on linen inside a sarcophogus. Encaustic paint is a mixture of melted beeswax, demar varnish (pine resin) and pigment set with heat. In the old days, paintings were set out in the sun to cure, but I use a heat gun to speed up the process. Once a painting is done, it will harden to an enamal like surface and age without cracking. The process is a bit like watercolors because is is easily moved while in liquid form and not forgiving. You get what you get and either work with a piece as is or start over. Rich depth and an amazing sensuousness is achieved with only encaustic.

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