How to start Encaustic Art safely

Encaustic art will open up a world of creativity. For safe and relaxed working just follow these guidelines....

• Work in a well ventilated area!
• Children need supervision, (most adults don't).
• Ensure the iron base is smooth and the handle is firmly attached.
• Set the thermostat to one or low, - too hot an iron gives watery wax which is difficult to work.
• If the iron is too cold the wax is very sticky or won't melt at all.
• If results are dry and scratchy try using more wax
• Don't press too hard !
• Don't leave the iron switched on unattended

You will need some waxes and painting card too. We have 2 standard kits both contain waxes, painting cards and basic instructions as well as a variety of loose stock products:

• The MINI SET has eight blocks of coloured waxes (M on order form) with 16 sheets of A6 card and two larger A5 sheets . The 6 page guide is brief but enough for a trial exploration. This is an inexpensive starter pack and a good present for anyone.

• The ART SEThas 16 blocks of coloured wax, 32 sheets of A6 card (about 6"x4" / 148 x 105mm), 32 sheets of A5 card (about 6"x8" / 148 x 210mm) and 8 larger A4 sheets (about 11 1/2" x 8" / 297 x 210mm). The 24 page guide is a straight forward introduction to the basic painting techniques of modern Encaustic Art. A metal scriber is also included for sgraffito effects(Scraping and Scratching). This set combined with the painting iron is ideal for getting started - a very popular Christmas or Birthday present too!

• Other options include a PACK of 10 BASIC AARTZ WAX COLOURS, the BOOK "How to paint with wax"or the "Hobby Book," and a PACK of A6 CARDS . All these and much more are available to you through our on-line shopping.

More tools & supplies...

Waxes

AartZ Waxes are new in the UK and come in 20 colours. They are sold in sets of Basic and Expanding colours. These waxes are a little thicker and more creamy than the Encaustic Art blocks. Both types of wax are totally intermixable and behave in similar ways but offer slightly differing results and effects. The STYLUS is like a very low temperature soldering iron and has been designed for use with these waxes. There are 2 standard types of tip included in the original Stylus pack(Use of a soldering iron is dangerous and can result in an injury!).
The DRAWING TIP behaves like a thick dip pen and is good for lines and graphic details (see it in action).
The BRUSH-HEAD is a copper fibre brush good for heavier applications in small areas and moving / mixing wax on the card. It makes the wax behave a bit like liquid oil paint.
The MINI IRON TIP is good for miniature paintings (like those for doll's houses for instance).
Finally the MICRO IRON TIP is used rather as the tip of a palette knife, staying hot enough to enable work within small areas, texturing strokes on bigger work and so on. Addition & replacement tips are all available as individual items.

Apart from the guide in the kits we have some other more recent sources of information.
The ENCAUSTIC ART VIDEO "Start & explore" was made in 1992 and covers most painting techniques. It has been awarded high ratings by several magazines and is well regarded by the thousands who have bought and watched it.

The ENCAUSTIC ART HOBBY BOOK was published in 1995 and works through a series of project based hobby craft techniques including encaustic on fabric and use with rubber stamps, etc. Both these informations are recommended.

Another clear & well illustrated book is ENCAUSTIC ART- How to paint with wax by Michael Bossom. It is filled with helpful guidence and ideas based on his many years of experience and development of this amazing artform.

In the Uk Shona Bossom runs Arts Encaustic from West Wales with the help and encouragement of Michael who started exploring the concept of wax painting in 1986. Michael works with Cor Van Empel from Holland. The world-wide distribution of the whole encaustic art product range is handled from this Netherlands base by Arts Encaustic International. Your help in spreading our contact addresses to any other friends or family who may be interested is very much appreciated. This idea grows because you Any contacts will help this idea grow. Thanks

Arts Encaustic are leading wax painting specialists in the UK and increasingly, all over the world. Our service to customers includes direct sale of supplies through specialist shows and events, mail order and phone ordering (in UK visa / mastercard) , etc. We also supply shops and other creative businesses. Unfortunately we are not able to welcome personal callers at our contact / despatch address in Wales.