Encaustic painting happens to be one of the world's most ancient forms of art. According to encaustic painting history, Ancient Greece artists are connected with the earliest applications of this kind of painting (which includes the use of wax paint). 'Encaustic' comes from 'encaustikos,' (a Greek word) meaning 'to burn in,' and refers to how the paint layers are fused together. This particular type of painting 'disappeared' from history for quite a lot of years; yet, in the 1950s it was revived by Jasper Johns, who various in the art world refer to the 'father of modern encaustic painting.' Johns famously used this medium in his Target and Flags paintings.
The paint needed for encaustic wax painting is usually made from pigment, damar resin, and beeswax. The melting point of the beeswax is approximately 150F (which is rather low), and should be strained several times, so that all the impurities are removed. Due to the fact that the beeswax's melting point is so low, damar resin needs to be added so as to bring the melting point up to about 165F, and also to act as a type of hardening agent. This will cause the encaustic to have a small enamel finish, right after it has cooled.
If you are interested in learning how to do this particular type of art form, there are many encaustic painting supplies that you will need. First and foremost you will need a type of heat supply. You may choose to use something as basic as a pancake griddle or just a hot plate, or you can purchase a fancier type of heat source from an arts store. Secondly, you will need to encaustic paint. If you wish, you can make your very own paint from scratch, or you can purchase it ready made. The paint is well then melted down in some type of metal (such as muffin tins, or old soup cans). New colors can be made by mixing various paints together, once molten. The medium which is usually used is resin without the pigment or beeswax; however, other mediums can be used, and include: oil pastels, pigment sticks, as well as oil paint. Remember that plastic, water colors or acrylics are not well-matched to encaustic.
In order for you to have a great painting, it is imperative that you take care in selecting the grounds and also supports. This is important, as using the faulty type of grounds or supports provokes your painting to break; so, it is advised that you not use oil primer or acrylic gesso, as they tend to peel away from the grounds used. The best types of grounds to use are: raw canvas that has been stretched out over wood panel or board, hardboard that has been primed using Holy Grail, untempered masonite, claybord, and wood panels (such as plywood, birch, and luan).
Some other supplies that you will need to complete an encaustic painting include: porous surface material (clay, paper, wood, etc.); mark-making tools which are non-melting; paintbrushes (with bristles that will not melt); spatulas and small torches; thermometer; heat gun; and palette cups.
One of the best ways to learn how to create this form of painting is simply by watching an encaustic painting video online. Such videos will provide you with everything that you need to be familiar with this particular type of art form. Online videos are likewise a great way for you to learn different encaustic painting techniques, which will help anyone to create better paintings.