Description
Encaustic is made from beeswax to which is added dammar resin (sap of an East Asian tree) and, if desired, pigments. It must be fixed with heating tools: the word “encaustic” comes from the Greek enkausticos meaning “to burn”.
Encaustic has been used in arts for a very long time. There are over 1000 works of encaustic art, mainly by Greeks and Egyptians, dating back more than 2000 years. Known as the “Fayoum Portraits” they can be admired in Paris, at the Musée du Louvre and in New York city, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others.
Encaustic was rediscovered in the early twentieth century and used, in particular, by the Mexican painter Diego Rivera. The American painter Jasper Johns began in turn to use encaustic in the 1950s. Over the past thirty years especially in the United States, many methods and procedures for the use of encaustic have been developed.
Encaustic is a versatile medium with many characteristics. It transforms paper and cloth which absorb it. It can be used as an adhesive to bind different elements. And it can simply be used to paint. Today, this material is found in many forms of art including painting, printing and monotypes on paper, mix media, sculptures, installations, and more.
Archival Quality and Care
These works are very durable, but as with any fine art, they should be maintained with care. In our houses, the wax and resin will not melt unless exposed to temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius). It is, however, not advisable to hang a painting in front of a window with direct sunlight or near a heating appliance. In a vehicle, temperature levels can become extreme, and precautions should be taken: it is preferable not to transport or leave these works in a vehicle without a controlled temperature system both in summer and in winter because they are sensitive to freezing.
Some encaustic colours tend to “bloom” or become cloudy over time. This is caused by the carbon hydrates contained in the wax that come to the surface, which is totally normal. If this happens, simply rub the surface with a soft cloth. Over time the surface will retain its gloss as encaustic continues to cure and harden for up to one to three years.