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What about Technique?
Encaustic:
Interestingly, encaustic or hot wax painting, was known
as one of the major creative processes used by the Greeks. The
Egyptian tomb portraits, which are some of the finest examples
of encaustic painting available today, were done by Greeks (not
Egyptians) - according to Ralph Mayer. It is a technique
that traditionally requires alot of cumbersome tools.
Today the process has been streamlined with simpler tools but
for purity, simplicity, and honesty's sake I will try to
describe the technique that I have used. the
Ground:
The Greeks reportedly used encaustic on walls and
panels. A revival of the technique in the 18th/19th
century concentrated mostly on mural painting - with reportedly
insubstantial results, now 200 years later. My own
experience has been entirely on wooden panels, prepared with
chalk gesso as for egg tempera. Tools:
As the medium is melted beeswax, the first tool one needs is
a pallette for mixing the colors in a molten state. Years
ago, I went to my local metal junk yard and commissioned a
pallette measuring 18" x 28" of 1/4" steel plate
welded on four sides by legs 5" high (also of
1/4" steel plate). This allowed for the pallette to
sit on top of a hot plate with an air space of approximately
2". At the time, I remember it cost me about
$10. The second tool one needs is a hotplate. The
best are the kind that allow for variable temperature
adjustments. Look around at flea markets and you will find
what you need. Materials:
The same dry pigments
that can be used for egg tempera can be used in encaustic.
Purchase a few blocks of fine beesawax. Melt some
wax and mix it with approximately 20% damar varnish. Mix
this molten fluid together with a similar amount of dry pigment
and keep it in a metal cup on the warmed pallette. Mix up
a few colours as needed for the project at hand and keep them
warm on the pallette. Painting:
Molten colors can be applied using bristle brushes or even
the pallette knife. As the paint hardens almost
immediately upon contact with the panel, expect a highly
textured, immovable result. Further manipulations can be
obtained by heating the panel surface with a heat lamp.
Be careful to keep the surface horizontal to avoid runs.
The final "burning in" is also done with a heat lamp
close and evenly rotated over the surface to achieve a final
fused result.
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A
work in progress
The technique I use to paint landscapes in oils.
The
Ground
How to choose and prepare a panel for painting.
Egg
tempera
Some basics on painting with eggs.
Mixed technique
from the Ecole des Beaux Art, Paris.
Fresco
Some basics of painting fresco and fresco secco.
Encaustic
Some new expereince with an old technique.
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