What is Encaustic Art and Cold Wax Art?
What is Encaustic Art and Cold Wax Art?

Encaustic is a Greek word meaning “to heat or burn in” (enkaustikos). Heat is used throughout the process, from melting the beeswax and varnish to fusing the layers of wax. Encaustic consists of natural bees wax and dammar resin (crystallized tree sap). The medium can be used alone for its transparency or adhesive qualities or used pigmented. Pigments may be added to the medium, or purchased colored with traditional artist pigments. The medium is melted and applied with a brush or any tool the artist wishes to create from. Each layer is then reheated to fuse it to the previous layer. It is then reheated to fuse. Cold wax is a mixture of oil pigments mixed with cold wax and does not require fusing.

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Madeline SugermanMadeline Sugerman Contemporary Fine Art GalleryComment
Reception and demonstration at the opening of SWFL WAX Show at The United Arts Council
Reception and demonstration at the opening of SWFL WAX Show at The United Arts Council

Last night was the opening reception for the SWFL WAX Show at The United Arts Council in Naples, Florida. We were thrilled to have such a large turn out, especially during the usually slower summer months. A wonderful table of yummy snacks were offered along with wine. All the attendees seemed to have an enjoyable time socializing while viewing the hot and cold wax art by 9 talented artists. At 6 p.m. I presented a demonstration of “wet on wet” cold wax, also know as “alla prima”. This technique is done on paper and the art is worked while the oil and wax combination is wet. This technique is different from working with oil and cold wax on a board with many layers of mixture and requiring drying time between the layers. The photo above is the finished art that I completed in about 45 minutes. There were many questions from the audience and a great interest was shown in the process of cold wax.

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Madeline Sugerman