Ceracolors Cold Wax Paints

Ceracolors are water-soluble cold wax paints for artists providing a wide range of painting techniques from thick impastos to watercolor-like washes. They are fast-drying colors suitable for all supports used for encaustic painting, yet they do not require special tools or heated instruments. Use any brush suitable for water-based paint. Once dry, Ceracolors can be used in any cold-wax or encaustic painting technique, allowing further sculpting and manipulation of the paint. The ingredients in Ceracolors are found in food and cosmetics, so they are not considered toxic.

Water Solubility

Ceracolors are thinned with water. The paint comes out of the tube as a paste and can be diluted to the consistency of watercolors. The water solubility of Ceracolors allows easy handling and cleaning.

Color and Optical Quality

Ceracolors are available in a wide range of colors used by artists in other professional-quality mediums. Ceracolors are formulated for high tinting strength, and the optical qualities of wax provide outstanding chroma.

Drying

Ceracolors dry in two stages. First, the paint dries rapidly due to the evaporation of water, so it is touch dry within a short time. After this initial period, the paint can be reopened with a wet brush. During the second stage, wax crystals coalesce as the paint cures. This can take several days or up to weeks for a thicker paint.

Toxicity

Ceracolors are composed of ingredients not considered toxic—ingredients often found in food and cosmetics. There are no hazardous solvents or additives.

Impasto

You can apply Ceracolors thickly with the addition of gel or paste mediums to avoid excessive volume loss upon drying and subsequent cracking due to shrinkage.

Hardness

Ceracolors are made with a blend of waxes micro-emulsified in water. Wax is soft with low scratch resistance, so works require care when handling and storing.

Durability

Water-soluble wax paint is durable, as attested by the present state of preservation of Roman and Roman-Egyptian paintings of the first century in many museums throughout the world.

Clean Up

Cleaning brushes and equipment is easy with soap and water.

Supports

Rigid supports, such as wood, are best for wax painting techniques, but canvas and paper can also be used. Ceracolors can be applied to other materials, such as paper, that are absorbent.

Heat Setting

Uncured paint has limited wet scrub resistance, especially in thick layers. This resistance increases when Ceracolors are fused by heat. Heat can be applied with a heat gun, hair dryer, or kitchen torch.