Delft: Encaustic and Collage

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This article was written by Vicki Ross

Once a fiber artist, always a fiber artist. Although I worked with silk thread and the smallest silk gauze for needlepoint (40 stitches per inch), this is a quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic.

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

Materials:

  • 6″x 7″ Luan panel
  • Deli Paper (thank you mixed media artists)
  • encaustic medium (I used a few scrapes off a soft pastel to get my colors)
  • Razor Blade
  • Ranger Tacking Iron
  • Heat Gun

Prime the panel with two coats of clear medium, fusing each with heat gun. To get the surface as smooth as possible, alternate a Ranger tacking iron, scraping with a razor blade, and fusing with the heat gun. I searched through my painting archive and found a painting of a tulip that had nice bright colors. The original is 12” x 9”, soft pastel.

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

A quilt square named Delft Mill fit with the Tulip. Color scheme? Used Robert Burridge’s Goof Proof Color Wheel. I have the app, and it is a great tool! Working with plain encaustic medium, I scraped a bit from soft pastel sticks to get my color quickly. Sometimes you don’t need much, and it is easier than mixing. Worked great and I like the faint granulation.

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

Next, I experimented with the template pieces cut direct from thin encaustic medium. Nothing I did worked, and it made a mess on my Cuttlebug plates! I rolled it in pasta roller, put it in the freezer, and still had a mess. This was a simple pattern, so I took another path: Deli Paper to the rescue! I precut the pieces (minus the seam allowance), and dipped the required number of pieces into the same color mixture so it would resemble print fabric. Using tweezers, I mono-printed each piece on both sides.

 Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

Here you can see the pieces all ready for “quilting” onto the prepped board, and a trial piecing. Then I moved them to the board in position.

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

I decided what size laser print I wanted for the collage, then auditioned it for its just right position on the quilt.

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

This is how I resolved the extra space on the board since it was not a square proportion. Made some more triangle shapes and there you go!

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

First of many coats of clear medium.

Quilt pattern created in deli paper and encaustic by Vicki Ross

I really enjoy the layering, scraping, and mark making. A couple freeform lines for a casual framing of the collage, carved and filled with contrasting color, carve the name “delft” and sign it (carve and fill) and victory declared! Encaustic is not an instant gratification medium for me…I love the process and will keep working as long as the piece has something new to say.

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Author bio:

Vicki Ross is focused on sharing her journey to art and how life events can shape us through creativity www.Axully.com. Vicki has always been involved deeply in the creative arts, from professional soft crafts publications (knitting/crochet/needlework) to French Hand-sewing, stenciling to macramé, oil painting to encaustics. Whatever your leaning, she believes in the healing power of creating.

You can see more of Vicki’s work at VickiRossArt or via blog posts at Axully – Solid. Useful. Beautiful

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Basic Encaustic – Part 1: FAQ’s about Encaustic Painting

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This article was written by Elaine Brady Smith 

A lot of people are fascinated by encaustic painting. I meet so many that say…”oohh, I’ve always wanted to learn how to paint in encaustic!” And I love to hear that kind of enthusiasm for this medium. However, getting started in encaustic painting can seem like a daunting task, especially when you don’t even know yet if you will like it or not.

I’d like to help take the mystery out of “getting started” with encaustic painting and show you how to gather tools and equipment in an easy and economical way in this 3 part series. Yes, there is a lot of information to relay, but I want you to be thoroughly informed so you will have fun with this exciting medium. Here is what will be included in each of the articles:

  1. July – Encaustic Basics-Part I-FAQs about Encaustic Painting
  2. August – Encaustic Basics-Part II-Preparing Substrates, Fusing Methods, Adding Color
  3. Sept – Encaustic Basics-Part III-Adding Collage and Embedding Objects

Learn how to do encaustic painting. Learn how to paint with beeswax. Set up your own encaustic studio and learn the basics of getting started in encaustic painting.

What Does Encaustic Mean?

“The word encaustic originates from the Greek word enkaustikos which means to burn in, and this element of heat is necessary for a painting to be called encaustic.” Wikipedia.com

Encaustic painting is an extremely versatile medium with techniques and styles that are as individual as the artists who use them. There are numerous techniques to use in encaustic painting that can produce a wide range of results from a smooth flat finish to very textural surfaces. Encaustic can also be used to add collage and assemblage elements to your work and surprisingly it is also a superb sculpting medium. I am always amazed at how different artists approach encaustic with similar techniques and get such varied results. It’s really incredible!

There are many artists using plain beeswax for collage art and that is perfectly okay provided it is done on a stable surface and fused properly. I will be discussing “encaustic painting” here, which uses a medium made of beeswax and damar resin and the paint (color) made from encaustic medium and powdered pigments.

Learn how to do encaustic painting. Learn how to paint with beeswax. Set up your own encaustic studio and learn the basics of getting started in encaustic painting.

What is Encaustic Medium?

Encaustic medium is made with beeswax melted with Damar resin. I usually purchase refined beeswax and Damar resin from Swan’s Candles to make my own medium.

The ratio between the beeswax and damar resin can be 5:1 up to 10:1. I prefer the 5:1 ratio for hardness and shine factor. It is not recommended to ever use bleached beeswax for encaustic painting. And if you have a local beekeeper who can supply you with beeswax, that is fine to use too. Just know that there will still be a good amount of pollen suspended in the beeswax, which acts as a pigment and darkens the color of the wax.

It is less expensive to make your own encaustic medium than to purchase ready-made medium; however, ready-made medium is as clean and pure as you can get for clear coverage and bright colors. I make my own medium to economize, but I also love using ready-made encaustic products for their convenience and consistency.

Milled, powdered pigments are added to the medium to make colored pigment cakes that are used as your paint. You can make your own pigment cakes with medium and powdered pigments, but it is labor intensive and extreme safety precautions must be taken when handling the dry pigments.

Learn how to do encaustic painting. Learn how to paint with beeswax. Set up your own encaustic studio and learn the basics of getting started in encaustic painting.

Learn how to do encaustic painting. Learn how to paint with beeswax. Set up your own encaustic studio and learn the basics of getting started in encaustic painting.

For beginners, I recommend purchasing medium and pigment cakes from Enkaustikos. They are one of my favorite companies and the quality vs. cost of their products is outstanding. They have made encaustic painting affordable with convenient product sizes and pricing. Go to their website to find a retailer near you to purchase their products. There are also many online sources for Enkaustikos products like The Fine Art Store.

What Substrates Can I Paint Encaustic On?

Wax will adhere to a variety of surfaces. The most important thing to remember is that the surface must be absorbent and porous. If it is not absorbent and porous, the wax will eventually crack and flake off the surface.

Some excellent choices are: Birch Plywood, Regular Plywood, Unfinished Pine, Un-tempered Masonite, MDF, and Cradled Panels. The wax can be painted directly onto most unfinished wood surfaces, but by preparing the surface with Encaustic gesso or Bristol paper, the look of the piece will be enhanced and give brighter color results. I’ll cover prep of wood surfaces in the next article.

Stretched canvas is not a good surface for encaustic work. It is too flexible and the give is too unstable over a long term. Most paper is absorbent and porous and does provide a good surface for encaustic monotype and printing. It does not, however hold a great amount of wax and will become saturated at some point.

There are many surfaces available for purchase from retail artist supply companies that are perfect for encaustic art. More and more companies are making products that are compatible with encaustic work. I often purchase ½” unfinished pine boards from the lumber yard and have them cut into convenient sizes. Many hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s (in the US) will cut the wood for you, but I like a bit more control over my sizing, so I usually ask a friend to make the cuts for me. You can also purchase unfinished wood painting panels from many art stores and online.

What Equipment do I need for Fusing?

Each layer of wax that you brush onto your painting surface cools very quickly and hardens almost immediately as you work. As you add additional layers of wax they each become individual layers, one on top of the other. If you were to leave them as separate layers, they would eventually become unstable and begin to flake off over time. And you wouldn’t want that to happen after you have worked so hard on a piece!

It is necessary to fuse, or add heat to each and every layer in encaustic painting. This may seem tedious at first, but it is a necessary part of the process. As you fuse, each layer becomes one with the previous layer. As you add layers and fuse after adding each layer, your work becomes one solid layer of wax. This will make it strong and last many lifetimes.

Fusing is the process of adding heat to the surface until you see a slight shine, then remove the heat and allow the wax to cool. It is possible to fuse very large areas with a heat gun or acetylene torch, and it is possible to fuse very small areas with a small butane or crème Brule’ torch or a mini quilting iron. As you practice with different heat sources, you will begin to know which you prefer and which to use for different techniques.

I prefer a heat gun that has low/high settings so I can control the amount of air when fusing my layers and I believe the heat gun is the best heat source for beginners. There is no flame involved and that alone eliminates much fear when you are just learning. The torches are great for large works of art and to experiment with, but I recommend getting used to the basic process of encaustic before using them!

Inexpensive heat guns are available at many hardware stores. I purchased one for $15 at Harbor Freight. I have used many other more expensive heat guns, but this by far my favorite!

Learn how to do encaustic painting. Learn how to paint with beeswax. Set up your own encaustic studio and learn the basics of getting started in encaustic painting.

Can I do Encaustic Painting in my House?

You do need a bit of space to work on encaustic, and just like many other art mediums, in an area of your house that you do not have to worry about the mess. You should have a sturdy table to work on, be close to electric outlets and have sufficient ventilation. My work station is in my basement studio near a window and I have a fan sitting in the window to draw the air out of the room. As long as your area is well ventilated and your wax in not heated at too high a temperature, you will be fine. The proper temperature for melting encaustic medium and encaustic pigment cakes is between 170 degrees and 200 degrees. If anything starts smoking, you know your temps are set too high.

What Equipment do I need for Encaustic Painting?

You will need a palate on which to melt your medium and pigment cakes. Many encaustic artists start out using a pancake griddle, which is an easy item to find. I checked on Amazon.com and for $25-30, there is a huge variety of pancake griddles so I won’t recommend a specific one. I would however, recommend getting one with a numbered temperature gauge to control the heat setting. If you have a griddle that has low/high heat settings, then I would recommend getting a flat surface thermometer. There are commercially made encaustic electric palettes with anodized aluminum surfaces that are great, however I would recommend starting with an inexpensive pancake griddle until you find what suits your needs.

Learn how to do encaustic painting. Learn how to paint with beeswax. Set up your own encaustic studio and learn the basics of getting started in encaustic painting.

What Other Tools do I need for Encaustic Painting?

In addition to a heat gun (or other heat source) and pancake griddle (palate), you need tools to apply the wax to your surface. Cheap bristle brushes are great for this and can be purchased at the hardware or craft store. Don’t use synthetic brushes, as the heat will eventually melt them. And once you’ve used a brush with pigmented wax, it is best to dedicate the brush to that color, as it is difficult to completely clean brushes once they are used with wax. In fact the tools I use for encaustic are all dedicated to just encaustic work. You will also need metal containers to hold your medium and paints. I used aluminum or tin cans. It’s a great way to recycle cat food or tuna cans. Just make sure they are very clean and dry before putting your encaustic paints in them.

So this is basically what you will need to get started in encaustic painting. Of course there are many more tools that you might collect to use in your encaustic work, but this is a basic list to show you that it is not that expensive or difficult to get started. You can begin to collect your tools and equipment and next month we will discuss how to prep your substrates, fusing methods and adding color to your work. There is a lot more to talk about. We are just beginning to have fun!!!

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Elaine Brady Smith loves creating acrylic mixed media and encaustic collages. Key ingredients in her work are vintage papers and her own collage papers made with repetitive marks, simplistic shapes and transparent layers.  She also enjoys other art mediums such as art journaling, oil painting and colored pencil drawing in addition to writing, teaching and spending time with her family. Find more on her website: elainebradysmith.com and on Facebook: Elaine Brady Smith Art

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Soft Pastel, Collage and Encaustic

This article has been written by Vicki Ross

After months of studying and researching encaustic techniques, collecting the supplies, and setting up a workstation in my studio, I was ready to ease into some serious play! Being an analytic person by nature, I always work from information to play, rather than play and learn-as-you-go. I made my first batch of encaustic medium (beeswax + damar resin) and ended up with 20 or so mini-muffin shaped cakes of medium. Won’t do that again in a mini-crock pot because it had three legs and was full- wax all over my counter. Miss Brain did everything right, down to micro-managing the measurements, but forgot a piece of newspaper on top of the counter. DUH! Did a few small 7″x7″ experimental pieces on watercolor paper mounted on foam core (materials on hand). A few got scraped off, and the used medium saved into a ball for later use…too precious to waste.

Encaustic and Pastel 12” x 9”

Encaustic, Pastel, Collage, and Gold Leaf

Now I felt like something larger…

Materials:

  • 12″x 9″ Luan panel
  • R&F encaustic gesso
  • Deli Paper (thank you mixed media artists)
  • soft pastels
  • gold leaf
  • encaustic medium
  • Razor Blade
  • Ranger Tacking Iron
  • Heat Gun

Prime the panel with two coats of clear medium, fusing each with heat gun. To get the surface as smooth as possible, alternate a Ranger tacking iron, scraping with a razor blade, and fusing with the heat gun. Next, I laid on a layer of tinted medium (melted with scrapings from the early pieces. To achieve an aged look, I  placed the panel on the heated surface of the griddle until the wax was moving.

Preparing the panel

Preparing the panel

In photoshop, I planned the position of my portrait (reversed), and made the same composition lines onto a piece of deli paper. With soft pastels, I painted the portrait on the paper, continuously checking my drawing.

positioning of the portrait

Painting the portrait

Gently heating the prepared panel with the heat gun, align and place the deli paper pastel side down, and burnish it carefully and thoroughly.

Polishing the portrait on panel one

Carefully remove the deli paper from the panel. If any non-burnished areas show, lay paper back over that spot and re-burnish. If the paper tears, begin peeling it from another direction.

Remove the deli paper from the panel

As with the first panel, gently warm the surface with the heat gun. Carefully position the deli paper with the ghost image pastel side up this time, creating a mirror image. With the heat gun again, warm the paper. The underlying layers of encaustic medium will encapsulate the paper, rendering it almost invisible. Carve a circular halo, add more touches of gold leaf, and voilå! Katherine and Katherine Reflected.

Katherine and Katherine reflected image

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Vicki Ross is focused on sharing her journey to art and how life events can shape us through creativity www.Axully.com. Vicki has always been involved deeply in the creative arts, from professional soft crafts publications (knitting/crochet/needlework) to French Hand-sewing, stenciling to macramé, oil painting to encaustics. Whatever your leaning, she believes in the healing power of creating.

You can see more of Vicki’s work at VickiRossArt or via blog posts at Axully – Solid. Useful. Beautiful

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Family History Collages

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This article is written by Anjuli Johnson

When I was finishing my history degree, I worked on a project that quickly became one of my favorites. The main stipulation was that all of my research had to be based on what historians call “Primary Documents”. Primary documents are direct evidence of the topic being researched, and were created by witnesses or recorders of the events. Examples of primary documents include journal entries, birth certificates, and newspaper articles.

Collage using original letters of my father from 1974

I remember researching my project required hours in the library, searching through rolls of microfilm for hundreds of birth and death certificates and interpreting the information I found there. It sounds so tedious, but going through those letters and certificates and seeing the names of actual people, their handwriting, and the tiny portions of their lives that were recorded there- it was fascinating. I’m not sure what it is about old certificates and journal entries- it’s like they contain secrets that are just waiting to be discovered.

  Letters and memorabilia used in an encaustic collage with a family history theme.

 

When the journal entries and letters are from your own family, that feeling of fascination triples. A few years ago, my grandparents basement flooded and we had to bring out all kinds of boxes to keep things from being ruined. It was then that I discovered a cache of letters from my father to his family while he was a young missionary in Mexico in 1974-1975. What an amazing feeling, going through those letters, reading about my dad who at the time was even younger than I was. Seeing his handwriting, the little tidbits he had collected, the replies his parents sent him, pictures, etc. were just like a window to the past. As a historian, those documents represent the truth of who my dad is and was, as well as who I am, as his daughter. I want to immortalize that truth, to make sure that it doesn’t get buried at the bottom of a drawer or inside a box. How could I do that in a way that would be respectful, beautiful, and long-lasting?

mission ephemera in encaustic collage

stamps embedded in encaustic collage

I decided on a set of encaustic collages- one of my Father during his mission and one of me during mine, 30 years later.

Since I knew I was going to be using primary documents, I started by choosing what to include and made copies and scans of every piece. I debated using the originals in my art, but I finally decided that the true value of my collage is in the fact that these are actual pieces of my own history. These artifacts represent my past, and by extension, my present and my future. Using printed copies just didn’t seem right, yet I still needed to make sure that nothing would be lost by including the originals in my collage. Once I have each piece framed, the letters I chose to include will be typed in their entirety and adhered to the back, so that even though parts of the originals are covered in the collage by wax and other elements, the whole letter can be seen simply by looking at the back of the painting.

The collage I created about my father is much more vintage looking than mine- I think the nature of the elements I used for his, and the fact that they are 30 years older adds to that look, but I also used rust in between layers of wax. To use this technique, I soaked a portion of steel wool in a white vinegar and water solution, and shook the droplets directly onto the wax. Once they dried, I was able to add more layers of wax and elements to imbed the rust in the middle of the collage. Adding the drops of India ink to the left side of each collage as a final touch brought more continuity to the set, as well.

original letter added to an encaustic collage

Don’t be afraid to showcase your family history through your art.  I will admit, I was a little nervous to be using the original letters of mine and my dad’s but to be honest, they mean so much more in this form than they do stacked in a box.  Collect your family’s primary documents, make copies and scans- you can even use the copies in your art if you prefer- but do something with your family’s memories that will spark interest and ensure that those memories are remembered and cherished, never misplaced or forgotten.

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Anjuli Johnson is a Mixed Media Artist from Raleigh, NC.  She began her art career as a scrapbooker, and it’s been an evolutionary process ever since.  She loves all things mixed media- paper, paint, pens, wire, gears, clay… the list goes on and on.  She is constantly trying to push through her fears to discover and develop her talents, meet new people, and learn from those around her.  To see more of Anjuli’s art and techniques, check out her website at www.thefarpavilion.com  and like her Facebook page www.facebook.com/TheFarPavilion

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