Encaustic paintings have been around for over 4,000 years. The technique was invented by the Greeks to seal the hulls of their ships and for tomb paintings. The paint consists of resin, bee’s wax, and added pigments. The resin and wax is first cooked together until fully dissolved and then the mix is strained through a cheesecloth lined sieve in order to eliminate plant debris from the resin. Next, pigments are added to the hot mixture. The paint is applied in a molten state to a rigid surface with a brush (dries instantly) and is fused to the surface layer by layer with irons or a torch. See the encaustic painting gallery or read more about the process in encaustic posts.
Encaustic painting process
