About Encaustic Wax Art
Phil creates encaustic wax paintings using an iron, hot stylus and a paint stripper - strange but true! The technique seems modern but actually dates back to the ancients of Greece, Rome and Egypt.
A heated palette, warmed over a charcoal fire was used to create an environment suitable for holding the colours in a liquid state. The mixtures seem to have consisted of pigment blended with bees wax and resins.
Examples of wax portraiture have been found in many Egyptian tombs in excellent condition, the portraits from Fayum are good examples of the style and can be seen in the British Museum. These works dramatically display the durability inherent in encaustic wax. It lasts a very long time.
Encaustic Waxes
Modern technology means we can use irons and other heat inducing tools to manipulate and control the coloured waxes. Once the picture is finished it is polished and a chemical sealer is then painted on, ensuring complete protection and colour fastness. In some of Phil's paintings a special metallic wax has been used which creates some fantastic effects if the painting is viewed from different angles or as the sunlight moves around a room.
Encaustic Wax Art Equipment
Encaustic Wax Art Starter Kits
Encaustic Art Starter Kit £64.50
Kit includes:
- Lightweight encaustic painting iron
- 16 personally recommended encaustic waxes
- White painting cards (30 X A6 and 10 x A5)
- Special hand turned thin scriber tool
The encaustic iron is small and lightweight, with adjustable temperature settings. It holds a stable working temperature, ideal for any type of wax melting or encaustic wax painting technique.
Phil Madley Encaustic Art Starter Kit including Wax Iron
Encaustic Art Stylus Pro £37.50
Includes:
- Encaustic heated Stylus
- On/Off and two heat settings
- Three screw in attachments - pen, brush & rectangle
The Art Stylus is especially designed for painting in wax. The interchangeable tips allow you to control the hot wax, helping you to easily create more detailed encaustic art work. Various additional attachments can be purchased separately.
Encaustic Art Stylus Pro
Try Before You Buy
Try the encaustic art equipment at one of Phil’s art workshops. Encaustic art starter kits can be purchased from Phil after the class, or at any time.
What Phil's students have said:
“It was wonderful to learn something new - something we had never heard of before”