History

Encaustic is an ancient Greek medium of painting with molten, pigmented beeswax.  The work "encaustic" come from the Greek work "enkaustikos" which means "to burn in", referring to the process of combining hot, natural beeswax with resin and colored pigments to simultaneously paint and sculpt the surface fusing each of the multiple layers together with heat.  Collage elements such as papers and organic materials may also be added during the process.

Care

After completion of an encasutic painting there is a curing process of a few months.  During this time the surface may develop a slight haze called 'bloom'.  This is not a defect.  If this happens, or if your painting becomes dull or dusty it can be buffed gently with a soft, lint-free cloth.  This will restore a lustrous shine to the surface and not harm the artwork.  The painting is very stable under normal temperatures and indirect sunlight not affect the painting.  The painting should not be hung in direct sunlight or any place near heat sources (such as fireplaces) and extreme cold can make the wax brittle and susceptible to cracking.  Even with these measures, if the wax on your painting does soften, and/or dulling occurs, wait until the painting has hardened (by moving it to a cooler location) and buff with a soft, lint-free cloth.  As with all fine art, encaustic paintings can be scratched, gouged or chipped if handled roughly.