Class Overview
This class will be a very basic introduction into the art of encaustic painting. Encaustic has been around as a painting medium for thousands of years. I will take you step by step through the process from choosing the correct materials to mixing your own paint to putting your first brushstrokes down on a panel. By the end of the class, you will have made your first encaustic painting, and learned the skills necessary to begin your journey in this wonderful and versatile medium that is part of the fine art tradition. <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/browse/fine-art" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://www.skillshare.com/browse/fine-art</a>
 
What you will learn
In this class, you will learn
- how to choose the correct encaustic materials
- the formula for making your own encaustic medium
- what a substrate is for encaustic and how to properly prepare it
- techniques for mixing encaustic paint and applying it to a substrate
- how to manipulate the heat gun or torch in order to achieve different textures
- final finishing techniques including framing your final encaustic painting
 
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Who should take this class
You need this class if you have been curious about encaustic but don’t know where to begin. Maybe you have already tried to paint with this medium but were not successful because you didn’t have the correct information. This class is a fundamental lesson into encaustic. I start and end with the basics- the essentials you need to know in order to be successful.
I started out painting in encaustic all on my own. I read books and watched videos, and of course, made LOTS of mistakes with my own paintings along the way. Now it’s my turn to share what I have learned with you, so that you can develop the confidence to create your first encaustic painting with ease. To see my work and what other classes I offer, visit my <a href="https://www.danaharrisseeger.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">website</a>.
 
Why you should take this class
You should take this class because painting in encaustic will open up so many creative doors for you! This medium has so many characteristics and subtleties that it is well worth learning the basics so you can explore for years (yes years!) to come. If I can save you time and frustration learning this beautiful and ethereal material, then it’s worth the hour or so you will spend watching videos and making your own encaustic painting.
 
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Materials/Resources
I have included a basic encaustic handbook with this class so you can reference it, download it and keep it with you as a kind of “cheat sheet” while you are working. I find it good to watch the class first as a lot of your questions might be answered in the following videos. If you prefer to work along as you watch, that’s great too! Each lesson builds on the next, so we go in a linear order of how I work when I paint in encaustic.
<a href="https://www.canva.com/design/DAFRayDdeDU/4muUTN-Wtukj6XPDRchY-A/view?utm_content=DAFRayDdeDU&amp;utm_campaign=designshare&amp;utm_medium=link&amp;utm_source=homepage_design_menu" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Encaustic Basics Workbook</a>
The basic materials necessary to your encaustic painting journey are these:
- One 8x10" cradles panel (or hard substrate like a masonite or 1/4" thick plywood board.
- 3-4 natural bristle "hake" brushes in a few different sizes ranging from 1-3" wide
- Encaustic medium. You can either purchase pre-mixed "medium" or get bleached bee's wax and Damar Resin to make your own. I'll show you how in the class!
- Encaustic paint. You can purchase ready to melt paint in stick or block form. You can also use dry pigment or oil paint to mix with the medium if you already have that! DO NOT use acrylic paint or watercolor.
- Hot plate like a pancake griddle 
- Small propane torch with a trigger ignition OR an adjustable heat gun (from Ace Hardware)
- Blue painter's tape

Encaustic Basics Introduction

Essential Materials

Encaustic Safety

Substrate Introduction

Panel Prep: Gesso

Prepping the Edges

Making Encaustic Medium

Setting up Your Palette

Adding Color to Medium

Applying Medium to a Raw Panel

Applying Medium to a Gessoed Panel

Transparent vs. Opaque Paint

Fusing with a Torch

Painting and Scraping

Cleaning Up

Finishing Edges

Framing

Thank You

The deep places.jpg

encaustic studio workbook.pdf

Encaustic History Presentation .pdf

Encaustic Basics | How to Start Your First Encaustic Painting

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Encaustic Basics | How to Start Your First Encaustic Painting

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