Melted Wax Effect

[Orp]

Hi

I haven't done anything with wax other than Batik, which I enjoyed, and at attempt at using Dorland's wax. I am wondering if this is a technique that can employ laying out flat areas of color and then fusing them together afterward with some control over the edges perhaps during the melting stage. I believe I read about someone using a hair dryer to this end.


Thanks!

[ 20. August 2008, 14:14: Message edited by: Orp ]

[George O'Hanlon]

If you are referring to encaustic painting, then one paints with softened or melted wax colors on a substrate (the first operation of the encaustic painting technique) and then burns-in the colors, which is the second operation and thereby fuses and levels the colors applied. You can use a hair dryer to accomplish the burning-in.

[John Kennedy]

Traditional Batik, a decorative art form from the island of Java, uses wax as a dye resist. The artisan draws a pattern directly on fabric with melted wax. The wax creates resist patterns where dye is not absorbed. Usually a funnel pen or dip pen is used by the artist to create the artwork on fabric. Once the artwork is complete, dyes are used to dye the fabric and the waxed artwork will not obsorb the dye (hence, dye resist). No hair dryers used in this method.

George is correct about encaustic painting methods, which can be done on wood, canvas, cotton papers, and other substrates that a hot wax pigment will adhere to and usually required some form of absorbant ground.