Hot Iron Painting Techniques

I use many different types of heat tool to create my paintings in wax.

Encaustic Art has a wide and varied history of painting techniques and painting style. The words “Encaustic Art” means many things to many people. Some paintings are created with deep layers of wax, with the design almost carved into it, others use mixed medium styles.

I paint in hot wax. I melt the wax using a variety of tools, I have specialist craft irons, stylus tools which I use like a hot palette knife or for detailing with a combination of heated nibs. I also have a hot plate to melt wax directly onto the painting surface or heat the wax to apply with a brush or more conventional painting palette knife.

I have in the past blogged about using my favorite tool “the stylus heat tool with the micro iron nib” but in this post I am concentrating on the Encaustic iron.

Encaustic Iron Tool

The Encaustic art craft iron may look like a conventional iron but it is especially for the job of heating wax.

I use one of the irons to create parts of my artwork, as a painting tool it is a different shape from many palette knife but once mastered can be used to create bold strokes and also amazing detail. By adjusting the angle and pressure, light and shadow can be introduced into a painting as the flow of the wax can be controlled in this way.

A Very Versatile Tool

As you can see from the first set of photographs on the right;

• Iron flat to lay a coating of wax onto the card.
• Angled more upright – the iron tip used.
• Side angled to make a more defined line.

The iron can be used flat to lay a coating of wax onto the card, which could add lots of wax and colour
or just a light background to work on.

With the more upright angle the iron can apply colour and shape and details, I sometimes use the iron in this position to add even small birds to a landscape.

Side angled to make a more defined line as I show here in the stem of the rose.

I often use the iron in the reverse position as in the photographs below;

• Creating a line for the horizon.
• Cutting into the wax to create waves.
• Loading the side of the iron.
• Sliding the wax to make a defined block of colour.

By using this edge of the iron in this reversed position I find I can control the edge of the tool in a way to create a straight line which is useful when painting a landscape or seascape horizon or when creating a candle, and dragging the wax to give a textured effect.

I sometimes use another one of these irons in its up turned position, thus making it into a mini hotplate which is good to add effects to areas of paintings when I don’t want to get out my full sized hotplate.

Combining Techniques

Each of these techniques work together to create the overall paintings.

I may use the Encaustic iron to create an entire picture or just parts of it, but it is an essential tool for me as an Encaustic artist.

I sourced my hot irons via Michael Bossoms website @ www.encaustic.com and many of my supplies come from here too, I also get supplies from Barry Moulton at Wakes Waxes in Colcester, but there are many suppliers online and worldwide selling encaustic tools and equipment.

Watching Me Paint

All of the photographs published in this post are taken from some of my video demonstrations which are live and available to watch via the Art In Wax Youtube Channel.

• Single stem rose : Painting An Encaustic Rose
• Boats : How to Paint a Sail Boat
• Festive Candle : How to paint a festive candle

More in 2013

For 2013 I am planning to create more online video demonstrations and exhibits.

The plans are in place for the next video which will be a workshop style film, based on painting techniques and adding elements into a picture …… so watch out for that.

I am also working on paintings for a new exhibit for the Art In wax online exhibition page, this will be a series of paintings based on a theme, which I’ll keep as a surprise for now!

What did you think of this blog post? Please leave me a comment below.

Thank you Hazel

ACEO Original Art

Encaustic Art ACEO Collection Show

I have today created a slide show of some of my ACEO paintings.

This show is based on a selection of my ACEO paintings

ACEO stands for “Art Card Editions and Originals” ACEO’s are on off-shoot of ATC (Artist Trading Cards) both of which have a long standing history.

An ACEO is a miniature work of art, and can take a wide variety of styles, materials and subjects they are 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size.

Collectibles

ACEO’s are very collectible and a popular pastime as they are an affordable way to collect art , I have sold many ACEO’s and most of these shown in this slide show are now with private collectors across the globe.

I don’t currently have any ACEO in my shop by if you are interested in purchasing one from me for your collection please contact me and I will advise what I have available or maybe I can paint one especially for you as a commission.

More shows

Creating these more themed shows is great fun as I look back at all my paintings and Artwork, next I will look at Landscapes and My “Ladies” to see what show will be next online.

What do you think of this slide show?
Please leave me a comment below if you liked this show and if you would like to see more slide shows of Art In Wax.

Thanks for watching.

Flower Show

Encaustic Art Flower Show

I have today created a slide show of some of my flower paintings.

This show is based on a selection of my flower paintings, including some not previously seem online before.

More shows

I will create some more themed shows, for Landscapes and my ACEO collection

What do you think of this slide show?
Please leave me a comment below if you liked this show and if you would like to see more slide shows of Art In Wax.

Thanks for watching.

Something Special and Unique

It is always nice to give a gift that is special and nowadays there is so much choice when it comes to buying our family, friends and loved ones a present. How about thinking a bit different and giving some original Art.

So what about a change from socks and smellies!

I have bought many a pair of socks as a gift and loads of smellies and don’t get me wrong I really appreciate perfume, especially if its my favorite brands (are you reading this hubby!). But I also like to give something different too. Continue reading Unique Christmas Gifts

Art Online

How we display and show art online

I have written a couple of posts about how I like to display my art :
Art Display : Beauty is in the eye of the beholder which talks about how beauty may well be in the eye of the beholder, and what we all like or dislike about art is the same – individual and personal choice, and also how display plays a part in this too.
and
What a difference a frame makes! how displaying in a frame can make a difference to the look and feel of a piece of art.

What people are saying about Art In Wax

The feedback I have received recently about my paintings such as ……

…. just goes to show that when looking online on our wonderful computers we can not see the true beauty in some types of art online. I personally feel this is especially true when looking at Encaustic paintings, as part of the beauty comes from the sheen of the wax that can not be captured to its fullness in a photograph. The texture can also look clumsy online whereas in real life it is often much more subtle and gentle and yet the colours more bold and vibrant at times.

New Painting : Country Stream

Country Stream is a brand new painting from me …… hot off the iron so to speak!

It is approximately 10 x 8 inches in size, look how different it looks from the plain photograph to showing it mounted and displayed on a easel to double mounted and framed in a slightly fancy edged frame.

It just goes to show ……

Even just showing them displayed in a different way can make a difference – would you agree?

Have you seen an encaustic wax painting in real life – they do look different than online photographs.

View more Landscape paintings in the Art In Wax Landscape Gallery and many pictures are available in my web art shop.