The Process of Encaustic Art: A Path to Emotional Healing

Encaustic wax melting in hot plate

WHY I PAINT

Turning Pain into Beauty

"Have you ever wondered what resilience looks like if you could hold it in your hands? Imagine a world where trauma melts like wax, and healing blooms in vibrant, abstract landscapes. My journey as an encaustic artist embodies this process—turning pain into beauty, layer by layer. Through every piece, I explore the emotional transformation that comes with healing, just as my artwork transforms under heat and pressure."

The Process: A Metaphor for Personal Growth

Creating an encaustic piece is a meditative ritual that can span up to 60 hours. The process begins by sanding a wooden board to its raw state—a symbolic stripping away of old beliefs and traumas. Just as we dismantle emotional walls in our lives, this preparation is the foundation for the transformative art to come.

Layer by layer, I build up the surface with homemade encaustic gesso. Each application mirrors the emotional work of replacing old, destructive beliefs with new affirmations of self-worth and acceptance. Only after these layers can I start applying the beeswax, symbolizing the new emotional foundation on which we rebuild.

The Alchemy of Encaustic: Turning Pain into Beauty

My journey with encaustic art began as a way to express what words couldn’t capture. This ancient technique, which involves layering molten beeswax with pigments, mirrors the painstaking process of emotional recovery. Just as each layer of wax is carefully applied and fused at over 80°C, so too does healing require patience, persistence, and the courage to face the heat of transformation.

The Patience of Encaustic Art: A Metaphor for Healing

Encaustic art demands patience—much like the journey of healing from past traumas and life challenges. The physical process begins long before the first stroke of wax hits the canvas. It involves hours of preparation—melting beeswax, mixing in pigments, and applying layer after layer of wax, each carefully heated to over 80°C.

This technique mirrors life’s own slow and deliberate process of physical growth. Healing, like encaustic art, isn’t instantaneous. It takes time, and each layer—just like the emotional layers we peel back in life—needs careful attention. Mistakes happen, wax cracks, but it’s all part of the beauty. Through encaustic, I’ve learned that imperfections are not flaws but marks of progress. Just as our emotional scars make us who we are, each piece of encaustic art is a testament to the beauty of the imperfect.

"Just as the layers of wax and pigment slowly build up to reveal a final piece, our emotional recovery is a process of peeling back old wounds and letting new affirmations solidify."

The Patience of Encaustic Art: A Metaphor for Healing

The encaustic process I use in my abstract landscapes is deeply symbolic. It reflects the emotional work of dismantling old patterns and traumas, paralleling my healing journey. The process begins with sanding the wooden board down to its raw, untouched state—representing the breaking down of emotional walls and deeply held traumas.

Each encaustic painting involves layering homemade encaustic gesso, sanding between each application. This mirrors the process of learning new thought patterns, replacing old, destructive beliefs—such as rejection and unworthiness—with affirmations of self-worth, love, and acceptance.

Finally, three layers of beeswax are applied, each one heated until the surface becomes smooth and shiny. This part of the process, which can take up to 16 hours, symbolises the fire of life that tests our new beliefs and emotional foundations. The heat of the wax brings emotional “dross”—old habits and behaviors—to the surface, where they can be addressed and healed. Only when the dross is cleared can I begin laying the artistic foundations for a new, transformed version of myself.

Finally, the board is ready for the painting process to begin. Only once all the dross, the bad habits, the wrong patterns, the wrong reactions, and the past are recognised and changed can I start laying a new foundation for a new me.

Each encaustic painting, then, is more than just art—it’s a reflection of resilience, renewal, and transformation. For those who collect my work, these pieces represent more than just visual beauty; they offer an emotional connection and a mirror to their own journey of personal growth and healing.

"One of my earliest encaustic pieces was created during a particularly challenging time in my life. The process of sanding down the board felt like stripping away layers of emotional burden, a metaphor for the trauma I was shedding."

Creating a Surface for Encaustic Art:

  • Use Quality Gesso: A mix of acrylic paint and Plaster of Paris provides a strong, absorbent base.
  • Apply Multiple Coats: More coats ensure better adhesion for the wax.
  • Sand Between Coats: Smoothing the surface between applications helps the wax adhere better.
  • Prime with Wax: Use at least 3 coats of clear encaustic wax to create a durable foundation for your piece.

A Bumbling Artist’s Guide to Encaustic Painting

A metal thermometer inserted into a yellow container on a messy work surface

ARTISTIC JOURNEYS

Temperature Tango: Wax Melting in Progress

"First things first: What is encaustic art? It's an ancient technique where you paint with molten beeswax mixed with pigments. Yep, you heard that right. We're basically making fancy, colorful candles and smearing them on boards. It's as messy and awesome as it sounds."

What is encaustic art?

A dark pan containing circular slices of white wax floating in a clear liquid
Sandpaper partially covered in white powder on a wooden surface with paint splatters

How to Be a Mad Wax Scientist: Adventures in Encaustic Art

Oh boy, let me tell you about encaustic art. It’s like being a mad scientist, but instead of bubbling potions, you’re working with hot wax. Sounds fun, right? Well, buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the weird and wonderful world of hot wax painting!

First things first: What is encaustic art? It’s an ancient technique where you paint with molten beeswax mixed with pigments. Yep, you heard that right. We’re basically making fancy, colourful candles and smearing them on boards. It’s as messy and awesome as it sounds.

Now, before you can even think about creating your masterpiece, you’ve got to prep. And by prep, I mean spend what feels like eons getting everything ready. It’s like preparing for a space mission, but instead of freeze-dried ice cream, you’re working with acrylic paint and plaster. Yum.

Step 1:

Make the gesso. Mix that acrylic  with your plaster, and voila! You’ve got a concoction that smells like wet dog and looks like lumpy milk. Appetizing, right? Slather that on your board, let it dry, sand it down. Repeat. And repeat. And… you guessed it, repeat. By the time you’re done, you’ll have arms like Popeye and the patience of a saint.

Creating a surface that the encaustic wax will adhere to is crucial. If the wax flakes off, your artwork will be a disaster. A well-prepared surface provides a stable foundation for the wax, ensuring that your masterpiece lasts for years to come.

Here are some tips for creating a suitable surface:

Use a quality gesso: A gesso made from acrylic paint and Plaster of Paris. It provides a strong, absorbent base for the wax.

      1. Apply multiple coats: The more coats of gesso you apply, the better the adhesion will be.
      2. Sand between coats: Sanding between coats helps to create a smooth surface and ensures that the next coat adheres properly.
      3. Prime with 3 coats of clear encaustic wax. Ok, Im not there yet!
A metal thermometer inserted into a yellow container on a messy work surface
A dark pan containing circular slices of white wax floating in a clear liquid

Step 2:

Create your encaustic medium. Melt some beeswax, throw in some damar resin, and baby, you’ve got a stew going! A very hot, very sticky stew that you should absolutely not eat. Trust me on this one. 

Remember, keeping the wax at the right temperature is crucial. If you overheat it to more than 80°C, the beeswax can break down, becoming brittle and losing its flexibility. This can result in cracks, discoloration, and even ruin your artwork. So, keep a close eye on your thermometer!

Now comes the fun part – actually painting! Except it’s less like painting and more like a high-stakes game of “how fast can you move before the wax cools?” It’s exhilarating, it’s frustrating, it’s… okay, sometimes it’s a total disaster. I once created a piece that was supposed to be a serene landscape but ended up looking like a wax factory exploded. Abstract art, anyone?

But when it works? Oh boy, does it work. The luminous quality of encaustic wax art is like nothing else. It’s like capturing sunlight in layers of translucent magic. I’ve made some encaustic wax abstract art that I’m pretty chuffed about – pieces that seem to glow from within, telling stories in their depth and texture.

Of course, mastering encaustic wax art techniques is a journey. One day you’re feeling like the Michelangelo of wax, the next you’re scraping off layers of what looks like solidified chicken soup. But that’s the beauty of it – every piece is an adventure.

For those brave souls interested in encaustic art for sale, just know that each piece comes with its own story of triumph, disaster, and the occasional singed eyebrow. It’s not just art; it’s a battle scar from the great wax wars.

That’s why I do not teach encaustic art, not only do you burn yourself silly, but you spend so much time prepping and with no guarantees that your artwork is actually going to work. Most people simply don’t have the patience for it. It’s also extremely expensive to make.

Let’s break down the costs:

      • Wax: Beeswax is a natural product, and its price can fluctuate depending on quality and availability. However, good quality beeswax for encaustic art isn’t cheap.
          • Encaustic Medium: R150 – R300 per 500g block
          • Beeswax: R100 – R200 per 500g block
          • Damar Resin: R150 – R250 per 500g
      • Pigments: Encaustic pigments are specially formulated to withstand the heat of the wax. These can be significantly more expensive than traditional artist’s pigments.
          • Pigments: R50 – R100 per 100g (depending on pigment type and quality)
      • Brushes: You can use specific encaustic brushes, which are designed to handle hot wax, or modify regular brushes for encaustic painting. However, even with modification, expect brushes to wear down quickly due to the heat.
      • Heating tools: You’ll need a palette or heating pan specifically designed for encaustic work. These can range in price depending on features and functionality.
          • Hot Air Gun: R1000 – R2000 (depending on brand and power)
          • Hotplate: R500 – R1500 (depending on size and features)
      • Hotplate: A hotplate is essential for melting and keeping encaustic wax at a consistent temperature. It provides a stable and controlled environment for your work.

So, while encaustic art can be incredibly rewarding, the investment in time, materials, and potential frustration is significant.

But for those interested in learning how to paint with more readily available materials and techniques, please go to my Lifeartschool and Academy website at www.lifeartschool.co.za. We offer a variety of courses designed to help you develop your artistic skills and unleash your creativity.

Happy painting!

Waves of Emotion: A Journey from Mind to Heart

Abstract expressionist painting "From the Head to the Heart" with bold brushstrokes, vibrant colours. The swirling blues and whites, reminiscent of a tempestuous sea, mirror the often chaotic path from logical thought to heartfelt feeling.

ARTISTIC JOURNEYS

From the Head to the Heart

"Art has the power to transport us, to challenge our perceptions, and to heal our souls. Through swirling blues, tempestuous waves, and golden hues of hope, this artwork speaks to the inner storms we all weather."

A Snapshot from 2015

Abstract expressionist painting "From the Head to the Heart" with bold brushstrokes, vibrant colours. The swirling blues and whites, reminiscent of a tempestuous sea, mirror the often chaotic path from logical thought to heartfelt feeling.
Abstract expressionist painting "From the Head to the Heart" with bold brushstrokes, vibrant colours. The swirling blues and whites, reminiscent of a tempestuous sea, mirror the often chaotic path from logical thought to heartfelt feeling.
Created and Sold in 2015, this painting captures more than just the tumultuous beauty of the ocean. It embodies the internal struggles we all face as we navigate the choppy waters of our minds and hearts.

The swirling blues and whites mirror the often chaotic path from logical thought to heartfelt feeling, while golden hues breakthrough like moments of clarity amidst life’s storms.

When I created this piece, I lived just four houses away from the beach in Melkbosstrand, Cape Town. The crash of waves, the taste of salt in the air, and the ever-changing moods of the ocean found their way onto my canvas. Little did I know that this artwork would become a poignant reminder of how quickly our lives can change.

The art world, like many others, experienced seismic shifts during the pandemic. Galleries closed their doors, and artists like myself had to adapt, moving from gallery representation to direct sales. This painting, which sold immediately upon completion, now resides with an unknown collector – a testament to the changing tides of the art market.

Artistic Process: Embracing the Cold Wax Technique

“From the Head to the Heart” marked my first exploration into the cold wax technique. This method, combined with oils, allows for rich textures and depth that perfectly capture the complexity of emotions I aim to convey. The process is as much a journey as the finished piece – layers build upon layers, mirroring the way our experiences shape us over time.

Emotional Resonance: A Universal Language

Art speaks when words fail, and this piece resonates with anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by life’s challenges yet sensed a glimmer of hope on the horizon. It’s a visual representation of resilience, of pushing through turbulent times to find moments of peace and clarity.

As an artist, I believe in the power of bold, vibrant colours and gestural motions to evoke deep emotional responses. My work, influenced by expressionist masters like Karel Appel and Willem de Kooning, embraces spontaneity and the therapeutic nature of creation.

Expanding Horizons: From Cold Wax to Encaustic Mastery

While “From the Head to the Heart” showcases my work with cold wax and oils, my artistic journey has led me to explore other mediums as well. My recent forays into encaustic hot wax techniques have opened up new avenues for expression, particularly in creating abstract landscapes that capture the essence of our natural world.

These encaustic pieces, which you can explore in my virtual showroom (https://lifeart.co.za/virtual-showroom/), continue to embody the core principles of expressiveness, spontaneity, and vibrant colour that define my work. They serve as windows into a world of hope and vitality, inviting viewers to embrace life’s beauty, even in challenging times.

 

Abstract expressionist painting "From the Head to the Heart" with bold brushstrokes, vibrant colours. The swirling blues and whites, reminiscent of a tempestuous sea, mirror the often chaotic path from logical thought to heartfelt feeling.
Abstract expressionist painting "From the Head to the Heart" with bold brushstrokes, vibrant colours. The swirling blues and whites, reminiscent of a tempestuous sea, mirror the often chaotic path from logical thought to heartfelt feeling.

Embrace the Journey.

In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, art remains a powerful force for connection, healing, and transformation. It reminds us that even in our most turbulent moments, beauty and hope persist; we need only open our hearts to experience them.

Art that breathes life—this is my mission, my passion, and my gift to you. Join me on this colourful, emotional journey from head to heart and rediscover the transformative power of art in these ever-changing times.

https://youtu.be/bzGjoCjIqQQ?list=PLLwRzKA614fHhEGVNbP7qgxRs-uC_DznR

‘I am a wandering eye poet, an eclectic color fanatic. I want my paintings to leap off the wall and overwhelm you with their tactile, chocolate thick, color and texture.’

Leonie.e.Brown
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