Unfortunately, I could not find anyone to teach me, and so began a journey of discovery which is still ongoing. During the search for information, I found out about Cold wax.
Because I could not find any local teachers or materials, so I approached one of the local paint manufacturers, Zellen Art Products, and together we created both the encaustic and Cold wax Medium.
The most significant difference between encaustic and cold wax is that, while with encaustic painting the wax must be molten to work with, and then reheated (fused) once it is applied to the surface, in cold wax painting there is no heat involved.
Cold Wax is an oil painting medium which is a buttery soft paste made of wax mixed with a small amount of solvent and resin. The cold wax paste is mixed with the oil paint on the palette. Cold wax adds body, transparency, and depth to the oil paint. It also speeds up drying time, increases the paint’s work ability, and does not require the special ventilation of encaustic.
Zellen Cold Wax Medium is a translucent, wax-based oil painting medium made from natural waxes, white spirits and alkyd resin. An excellent medium to create a variety of textures within a painting. It can retain the sharp peaks of impasto making it a great medium to use if you want to have more texture It is used to thicken oil paints and creates a matte transparent appearance. Another great feature is that the alkyd resin aids in reducing drying time. It can be mixed with oil paints or powder pigments to create the texture you need.
After Ive laid out my oil paint on my glass plate, I add the cold wax paste onto a glass palette. I then mix the wax into the paint, varying the proportion of wax depending upon the amount of transparency I’m after.
Applying the cold wax and paint mixture is the exciting part. I use a variety of and any tool I can lay my hand on. Palette knives, squeegees, trowels, cabinet scrapers, old credit cards, rollers, cardboard, forks…
The paint has a creamy, buttery texture and spreads and layers beautifully. I often roll the paint first onto wax paper and then transfer the paint from the paper by blotting it onto the canvass. I also use oil sticks, wax crayons, charcoal, graphite, finger, back of the brush, or whatever strikes my fancy.
After a day it can also be scraped away, revealing the underlying colours and creating more texture.
The most significant difference between encaustic and cold wax is that, while with encaustic painting the wax must be molten to work with, and then reheated (fused) once it is applied to the surface, in cold wax painting there is no heat involved.
Cold Wax is an oil painting medium which is a buttery soft paste made of wax mixed with a small amount of solvent and resin. The cold wax paste is mixed with the oil paint on the palette. Cold wax adds body, transparency, and depth to the oil paint. It also speeds up drying time, increases the paint’s workability, and does not require the special ventilation of encaustic.
In this video, we continue our conversation with Leonie.e.Brown, an artist whose work explores the intersection of spiritual and physical realities. In part 2 of our conversation, Leonie shares her secret to finding inspiration and success in her art. In part 1 of this conversation. Now in part 2, she shares with us her secret to finding inspiration and success in
FROM LEONIE: Hey there, fellow survivor and art enthusiast! I’ve been through battles, fought to live, and emerged stronger than ever. My art is a reflection of my journey, a testament to hope, resilience, and strength. In my paintings, you’ll find figures that embody the pain and suffering of abuse, but also the profound beauty and unyielding power of the human spirit.
Whether you're an art enthusiast or someone seeking inspiration, I invite you to explore my shop and gallery, immerse yourself in the stories, and discover the beauty that can arise from life's challenges. Together, we can celebrate the art of thriving.
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