Encaustic medium versus beeswax

by Jan Sanderson
(Auckland, NZ)

Mixed Media Art Questions for Milliande

Hi Milliande, I'm keen to know the advantages and disadvantages between using straight beeswax (refined or natural?) and encaustic medium for layering and embedding for a mixed media collage.

There's no-one in NZ who sells encaustic medium that I've been able to find but I can buy the beeswax and dammar crystals etc and make my own if I need to ... but if I can use plain beeswax for layering and embedding and get a ripping result why would I bother with making encaustic medium?

Help!
I'd really appreciate anything you can tell me at this point as I'm getting all my info from books.

Mixed Media Art Questions answered by Milliande


Thanks for your question ..but I have to say I have not much experienced with playing with beeswax or encaustic medium ... I have added ordinary beeswax to mixed media collages... but one has to be careful where the canvas is to be displayed as the beeswax itself remains affected by hit and direct sunlight ( a consideration when living in a hotter climate or the artwork is to be sold into a hot country)

Refined beeswax is usually used for mixed media collages as the natural yellow of the beeswax has been removed and it produces a clear glass like finish ...refined beeswax is thought to be better than bleached beeswax which can yellow over age

Encaustic medium I believe contains a mixture of beeswax and resin -- which is thought to increase the luminosit and durability of the beeswax application

Any other ideas welcome...if you know or have experience with beeswax and encaustic medium please share in a comment here

hope this helps
...milliande