Introduction to Hot Wax Painting
A course by Daniel I. Bahena GarcíaArtist
A course by Daniel I. Bahena García, Artist
Explore the world of encaustic painting and learn to combine it with a range of other techniques like painting, transfer printing, and stencils
The ancient Greeks were already painting with the encaustic technique and, today, it's one of the favorites of visual artist Daniel Bahena, who uses molten wax to achieve vibrant colors and eye-catching effects. He's here to encourage you to explore your creativity with complete freedom, and compose works filled with texture.
In this online course, delve into the world of hot wax painting and learn how to use it on mixed media, such as transfer printing and stencils. Alongside Daniel, discover the infinite possibilities of this method that has been used since the 5th century BC and learn to create iconically powerful images.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 23 downloads
Materials and instruments
20 minutes, 57 seconds
Selection of visual content
18 minutes, 6 seconds
Preparation of the work area
3 minutes, 35 seconds
Encaustic medium formulation
13 minutes, 45 seconds
Filtration, emptying and rest of the encaustic medium
3 minutes, 41 seconds
Cutwork paper over transferred image
17 minutes, 34 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet your teacher for the course, Daniel Bahena. He talks about his experience in the art world, as well as the artists that have most influenced his work. He also tells you a little about Enhebra Estudio, which he cofounded and manages, and where he also leads workshops.
So, what is hot wax painting? Get a brief introduction to this pictorial technique, its characteristics, and the exciting possibilities it offers. See the necessary materials and instruments, along with some practical recommendations for working in this medium.
Daniel walks you through the preparation for the encaustic painting process, and shows you how to set it aside for use in your final project. Next, get your creative juices flowing by playing, creating, and composing with your previously selected and printed visual content.
Then transfer the image and combine it with your paper cutouts, to achieve an amalgamation full of textures and depths that enrich the main image to be developed.
Now it's time to use the encaustic technique on your piece. Apply different layers and experiment with some techniques to generate relief or other plastic media such as oil paints. Daniel wraps up the course by explaining the drying and rest times best for your piece.
What is this course's project?
Develop a piece with iconic and mysterious elements using the encaustic painting technique.
Who is this online course for?
Anyone with creative interests and those keen to learn manual artistic techniques.
Requirements and materials
For materials, you need supplies and instruments such as beeswax, an electric grill, transparent printed images, a brush, carving tools, and oil paints.
Reviews
- 6 months ago
Me parece muy interesante!!
- 10 months ago
good
- 1 year ago
Conoce bien la tecnica y su trabajo es muy bueno pero no asi el lenguaje.
Utiliza palabras, no se si por sonar rimbombante, que no permiten que las instrucciones sean claras, es decir, sus palabras no se relacionan dentro de una oración y por ello no transmiten un significado coherente y una sencilla instruccion.
- 1 year ago
I really liked the course! Everything was clearly explained by the teacher and he has a calm way of presenting the information. I love all the possibilities that can come out of cutting, collage and encaustic!
- 1 year ago
ótimo curso!
Throughout his career, he has participated in several group art exhibitions in different parts of the world. He has also given workshops and lectures for art institutions and academies across Mexico. He is cofounder of Enhebra Estudio, a space where has been streamlining and disseminating his knowledge, through the teaching of different workshops with applied artistic techniques, for the past ten years.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Encaustic, creative possibilities
- What is encaustic?
- Materials and instruments
- Selection of visual content
- Preparation of the work area
- U3
Half encaustic formula
- Encaustic medium formulation
- Filtration, emptying and rest of the encaustic medium
- Game, creation and composition of visual content
- U4
Transfer and openwork paper as mixed image
- Image transfer on paper
- Cutwork paper over transferred image
- Assembly of the final image on the support
- U5
Execution and techniques of encaustic in the final image
- Application of hot encaustic medium
- Low and high relief on the encaustic medium 1
- Low and high relief on the encaustic medium 2
- Cauterization of the final piece
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to Hot Wax Painting
What to expect from a Domestika course
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Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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FAQs
Encaustic painting uses hot wax mixed with pigments to build layers and textures in artworks, creating unique visual effects. In contemporary art, it explores expressive and symbolic potential combined with mixed media techniques.
Yes, the course is designed for students with intermediate art skills who want to deepen their knowledge of encaustic techniques and analog artistic processes.
You’ll need purified wax, damar resin, powdered pigments, wooden panels, gesso, cutting tools, cotton paper, acetate, thinner, and basic safety gear like gloves and good ventilation.
You’ll learn to create images using cyanotype and analog techniques, combining manual processes and image transfers to enrich your artistic compositions.
Encaustic medium is prepared by mixing wax and damar resin at a controlled temperature, then filtered to remove impurities, resulting in a smooth blend ready to apply on art supports.
It’s essential to work in a well-ventilated area with protected surfaces and organized tools to ensure safety when handling hot wax and solvents, and to streamline your creative process.
Yes, the course teaches how to build layers, glazes, reliefs, and textures, allowing you to explore three-dimensionality and dynamic surfaces in your work.