Painting with encaustics is a three step formula: melt the pigmented wax, paint quickly, then fuse with a heat source. The challenge is that the wax begins to harden the moment the pigment-loaded brush leaves its heat source. Besides the additive aspect of working in encaustic, just as intriguing is the subtractive. During the painting process, I enjoy the spontaneity of re-discovering the deeper levels of wax as I first build up, then dig back into the many layers of wax.

Please be assured that it will take extreme heat to harm an encaustic painting. Of course you would not put any fine art in direct sunlight, however wax doesn’t melt until it reaches 150 degrees, so if your painting is melting, you’ve got a bigger problem…….your house is on fire!

Do keep your painting away from heat and direct sun (the inside of a car on a hot day is not a good idea). Feel free to touch the surface, and for heightened luminosity, gently polish the painting with a paper towel every week or two, or whenever the mood strikes you to commune with your painting.

To transport your encaustic painting, wrap in wax paper, then protect with several layers of bubble wrap. I transported an encaustic painting this way in my suitcase on a flight from Alaska to Japan, and the painting traveled fine. A quick shine before presentation and the painting was ready to hang.