Painting With Encaustic: Tips and Insights

Pods - Terry Jarrard_Dimond

Encaustic Painting - 12" x 12" - 2016

In my last post: Encaustic Worksop at Cullowhee Mountain Arts,  I talked about my recent workshop with Lisa Pressman in a general way.  This week I want to share some tips and insights I have had since returning along with information Lisa shared that finally sunk in with me.  

Smoke Ring

 - Terry Jarrard_Dimond

Encaustic Painting - 12" x 12" - 2016

• All mediums are not the same.  I have used several brands of encaustic medium and I have also made my own.  I have spent lots of time trying to get a shine on the surface of my work and it never seemed to look good.  During the workshop we used R&F Medium and the work looked hard and shiny as soon as it dried.  It could then be buffed up every more. I am totally sold on this product.

• I have lots of the "old" medium which I can not afford to waste so I will use it as one layer of the prime for my boards but I will no longer mix it with my encaustic paint.

• Lisa uses a safety razor blade held between forefinger and thumb to scrape rather than loop tools.  The razor blade worked much better for me as well.  Much more control....however, I have arthritis in my right thumb and it becomes painful after a while.  When I returned home I found a holder for this type razor blade used for scraping windows and tried scraping with the blade in the holder.  Not a much finest as just holding the blade but a mix of the two approaches will be good.

Window scraper 

• When priming your board always warm the board first.  I had forgotten that.

• When using the heat gun always put it on low or you will move the wax around in ways you won't like.

• Air bubbles can be popped when using a propane torch by flicking the bubble with the tip of the flame.  Don't over heat.

• Encaustic paint can be mixed with lots of medium and remain beautiful.  Don't use the paint straight from the block.  

• You can fit more paint containers on your hot palette if you use rectangular paint containers.  I began with round containers but I just got some of R&F's paint pans. I can fit about 10 pans on my small hot palette.

Strings Attached - Terry Jarrard_Dimond

Encaustic Painting - 12" x 12" - 2016

• Establish two palettes.  One for opaque colors and one for transparent colors.  I have previously not been very careful about that but I like this idea and I am loving what transparent paint adds.

• Using soy wax to clean your brushes and tools may leave a residue which can cloud your paint.  Rather than cleaning your brushes all the time try having brushes that you use with only one color.  If you do use soy wax to clean your brushes be sure and wash then with soap and water afterwards.

• I replaced the wooden clothes pins which help remove my paint containers around on the hot palette with tiny metal clips I bought on Ebay.  These work a lot better.

• Don't pick your paint containers up with the clips as they aren't that tight.  To pick things up off the palette I use a pair of pliers.

When the Dust Settles - Terry Jarrard_Dimond

Encaustic Painting - 12" x 12" - 2016

• If you like to work in a square format (I do) it gives you the opportunity to combine several paintings to make one larger one.

• Don't melt an entire block of paint into one container.  Break the paint up with a hammer and melt the chips as needed extending them with medium.

• Float frames work great with cradled boards.  They can however be very expensive.  I've just ordered one frame from Dick Blick that isn't expensive.  I'll let you know how it looks when it arrives.

• For safety I plug everything into one multi plug outlet along with a night light.  When the night light is off I know everything else is off.  This includes 3 electric hot plates and a vent-a-fume.  So far I've had no issue with power outages but you will want to be careful.

• When my palettes and paint cool down I cover everything with a drop cloth to avoid dust or other debris from getting into or onto my paint and equipment.

Enjoy your studio time!

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Encaustic Workshop At Cullowhee Mountain Arts

Supplies generously donated by R&F Encaustic for the workshop.

Yesterday I returned home from a week of study at Cullowhee Mountain Arts at Western Carolina University with Lisa Pressman.  The class was an advanced encaustic painting class.  It was informative, fun, and very satisfying.  

I have had a desire to make progress in this medium for a couple of years and I finally have enough information to begin the process in ernest.  I highly recommend Lisa as a teacher and as a person.  She is willing to spend personal time with you answering questions and concerns and also willing to give honest and thoughtful feedback on what you are doing and how to improve your work both technically and aesthetically.  

Class exercise

This is an example of a class exercise which involved drawing directly on an unwaxed cradled board, adding  medium and then white paint.  The piece was taken further after these processes. During the class I began perhaps 10 boards and will be evaluating them to see what they need over the next weeks.

Lisa Pressman

On the last morning of class we presented the work for everyone to view.  Everyone was invited to see the best work from each class member.  There were many supportive comments from the class and guidance from Lisa.

My best to everyone in the class and many thanks to Lisa for another great class!

Oil Sticks, Oil Paint, Cold Wax, Lisa Pressman, Cullowhee Mountain Arts and Western Carolina University

Oil Sticks, Oil Paint, Cold Wax on Paper

a study - TJD

The title of this week's article is the longest I've ever used but each part of the title is important.

Yesterday Tom and I returned from a week of study with Lisa Pressman at Cullowhee Mountain Arts on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.  It was a great experience and each of the elements in the title played their part well to make it such a success.

Tom and I hung all of our work in our home studio so it could dry. 

I had been wanting to study with Lisa for some time.  I love her work in encaustic and in oil and cold wax but most important I had read many very strong statements in support of her as a teacher.  Since Western Carolina is less than a 2 hour drive from my home, this seemed like the perfect time to join her class.

The class, Layered Media: Finding Your Mark in Mixed Media, offered the opportunity to work in oils which I hadn't done since high school as well as oil sticks and cold wax which I had never tried.  The class got off to a fast start and never slowed down.  Everyone in the class worked with great intensity and Lisa was always there to assist as you found your way in this interesting medium.

Lisa Pressman is pictured doing a demo.

The classrooms were large, well lighted and well equipped.  Everyone had a full 4 x 8 table and wall space as well as a double decker rolling cart for supplies.  We had choices of accommodations and we met each morning as a group for breakfast.  Lunch was brought to the art building and was nicely prepared.

Oil Sticks, Oil Paint, Cold Wax on Paper

two studies - TJD

The WCU campus is beautiful and interesting.  It is set on the side of a mountain with beautiful stonework walls and lovely views of the surrounding area.  

Norma Hendricks is the director of the Cullowhee Mountain Arts program and she is working hard to bring top quality teachers to be part of the program.  Due to the small size of the group, we were able to interact with Norma and her assistant Jana as well as all the program participants.  Be sure and check out the offerings for the fall season.

I'd love to be in the studio right now painting but tomorrow I drive to Graham North Carolina to deliver work for my upcoming show Contemporary Textiles at The Alamance County Arts Council Gallery.

I'll be posting more about the show in the coming weeks.

Oil Sticks, Oil Paint, Cold Wax on Paper

two studies - TJD

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