What exactly is encaustic medium and what does it do with photography? Encaustic medium is a painting medium comprised of beeswax and damar resin (a hardner). Examples of this painting technique can be found as far back as the Greece and Rome empires. I use it a little differently than originally intended. Which is by applyiing encaustic medium to multi-layered photograph that has been mounted to a hard surface.
I started incorporating encaustic medium into my art practice for two reasons. First it helps me to continue to blur the line between painting and photography. Secondly, it allows me to create dimensional wall art.
Because a photo is worth a thousand words, I’ve created a series of images that show you the stages of my process. I start with a photograph I’ve printed and end with a unique art piece ready for display.
If this process interest you but you don’t see an image you like for sale I would be happy to create it for you. Contact me at hello@shellycorbett.com with the name of the image and the size you’re interested in.
Encaustic Process Explained
Step 1
Each art piece begins with a hard substrate that has been prepped with gesso and tape to protect the edges. I print two copies of the photo I intend to work with. One image is mounted to the board and will be the background. I carefully cut out the subject of the second photo. I also cut out a piece of 2-ply mat board that will act as a spacer between the two photograph. The I wait for the glue to dry before moving to the next step.
Step 2
Because of the nature of beeswax, some colors will become dull. To counteract this, I reinforce these colors using a variety of materials such as pan pastels, colored pencils and watercolor sticks. This is another chance for me to add a creative and painterly feel to the photograph. While these flourishes might not be obvious under the wax, they add so much to the process.
Step 3
Step three is my favorite step. This is where I add the encaustic medium. I will paint the melted and liquified medium directly onto the photograph with a natural paint brush. This involves adding several layers of wax and fusing with heat between each layer. I always make sure I have a good book to listen to since this is a time intensive step.
Step 4
Time to get creative! Once the wax has hardened, I get to add even more embellesments to the surface. This includes removing excess wax, adding additional color, or even texture. One of the many fun reasons I love working with encaustic medium is its flexibility. It inspires creativity and play.
Step 5
The final step is sanding and staining the edge and adding a wire for hanging. I always sign and date all my finished pieces.
Final Image!
I hope you enjoyed this step by step look at my process. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at hello@shellycorbett.com.