The Fascinating World of Encaustic

A lot of people see my Encaustic work and think it's a really cool new technique. They are surprised to learn that it really is one of the oldest art forms around.

Encaustic dates back over 2,000 years to ancient Greece and Rome. In fact the word encaustic in Greek translates to "to burn in". The process was simple and creative: pigments were mixed with melted beeswax and then “burned in” with heat. That heat fused each layer permanently, creating images that were both luminous and incredibly durable.

Some of the most striking examples are the Fayum mummy portraits from Roman Egypt. It was very common in Greek and Roman times and found frequently in early Byzantine Icons. These wax-based portraits still retain their color and presence today—long after many oil and tempera works from later centuries have faded.

Knowing the history fascinates me. Beeswax fascinates me. It is naturally archival, chemically stable and resistant to moisture. Encaustic's strength fascinates me.

When artists work with encaustic today, we’re not reviving a lost technique—we are just making our own mark on it. One that will hopefully be around for awhile.

Next post: how Encaustic painting works.