“Wildfire” . . . . . 3-1/2”x3-1/2” encaustic painting

Description

“Wildfire” . . .  3-1/2”x3-1/2” encaustic painting with shellac cells

Original encaustic painting on 1”wood block

An encaustic iron and heated smoothing tool were used on this painting along with many layers of wax to create this effect. Both implements are heated to 200-220 degrees. After initial layers of molten wax from a melting pot are applied and ironed to a sheen, a smaller, smoothing tool is used to create various effects using pigmented wax. After every application of wax the painting is heated by a flame torch to seal each layer to the previous one otherwise the wax layers could separate with changes in temperature. I use only pure, filtered bees wax and all natural pigments on solid wood panels or acid etched glass as the strata for my work, never stretched canvas.  The black soot and ash in the air were created by torching a layer of my own, handmade shellac. Encaustic art has survived for over 2000 years, longer than any other painting form and is still exhibited in museums around the world. If you care to learn more about the origins of encaustic art consider searching for Fayum Mummy Encaustic Art.