Encaustic Paintings
For those unfamiliar with the term encaustic it basically means "with wax" but the true definition is: a paint consisting of pigment mixed with beeswax and fixed with heat after its application. Painting with encaustics is an ancient technique that is said to be dated at 800 b.c. or even earlier. Wax is a supple and versatile medium that never ceases to amaze me with its potential variations.
I use braced plywood panels as well as unbraced MDF board as my primary support materials for their resiliecy to being worked as well as stability in transport. I also paint on unprimed canvas or linen when I am seeking a different kind of response with the wax.
I use organic beeswax in both its natural form and a "bleached" form; which just means that is is white to clear instead of honey colored. I have begun to incorporate microcrystalline wax, which is a petroleum based wax, and have found it to be excellent for creating transparent layers.
As my work evolves I am introducing different methods of working with encaustic as well as alternative materials.