Encaustic Art

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Encaustic art refers to the use of liquefied wax and pigment to create art. This form of art dates back to the 4th century B.C when the Greeks started using melted wax to decorate vases and statues. From the Middle Ages up until the 18th century, this art form was lost as artists turned to tempera which made use of fresco and oil mediums. In the 20th century, encaustic art made a resurgence through the influence of Jasper Johns.

In order to produce encaustic art, wax has to melt down to an almost watery consistency before mixing it with pigment. Ancient Greeks and Romans used wax and an ivory point to pass heat close to the surface of the finished work to fuse and bond colors. While some modern artists use turpentine, mineral spirits or tetrachloride to thin the mixture down to use as a glaze that resembles watercolor, the Greco Roman methods were more popularly used as they allow the use of non-caustic natural materials to create effects similar to oil paint. Colors can be layered quickly on top of each other creating transparent, wafer thin glazes that are combined with heavy impasto textures that give it character and style. The ease of handling this art form makes it a popular choice for artists. If you need to rework your encaustic art, the application of heat is all you need to start the process.