DIY Faux Encaustic “Wax” Recipes (Medium Combinations).
This post follows on from my earlier post. Some of these I have tried but Im still working through.One of the fun aspects of faux encaustic is creating your own “wax” i.e. tinted acrylic medium mixtures to use in layers. You can keep it simple (e.g. matte gel + a little yellow oxide paint), or craft more complex translucent colours. Here are a few recipes and formulas from experienced acrylic artists to achieve a convincing wax like effect:
- Translucent Beeswax Glaze: Mix 8 ounces of Fluid Matte Medium with just a few drops of an iridescent gold fluid paint. Golden Paints suggests 4 drops of Fluid Iridescent Bright Gold (Fine) into 8 oz medium . This produces a very light amber gold glaze that, when dried, adds a barely there warm tint like aged wax.
- Milky Honey Gel (Pourable): Combine 8 oz Soft Gel Gloss + 2 oz Soft Gel Matte, then thin with 6 oz water. Into this, mix about 16 drops of Fluid Interference Blue (Fine) and 4 drops of Fluid Iridescent Gold . This formula creates a pourable gel with a pearlescent pale blue gold cast pouring it yields a layer with opalescent, hazy depth (great for ethereal effects over imagery).
- Classic “Wax” Tint (Brushable): Take 8 oz Soft Gel Matte and tint it with tiny amounts of rich, warm pigments. 2 drops of Naples Yellow Hue, 1 drop of Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold or similar, and 2 drops of Interference Red (Fine) Mix well the result is a thick, creamy gel with a warm wax colour. It will go on looking pastel but dries to a deeper golden-beige tone (test a swatch!). Use this to cover collage elements for an authentic beeswax. You can also mix in a bit of white (for a more opaque, cold-wax look) or a drop of brown (for an aged wax). The formulas above were adapted from Golden Paints and Patti Brady’s research, who provides many such recipes in her book Rethinking Acrylic. Small additions of interference or iridescent colours are a secret trick they give a faint shimmer that replicates the luminous quality of real beeswax. Keep notes of your recipes so you can recreate a favorite “wax” for larger pieces.
Examples, Inspiration, and Further Resources
Faux encaustic is a versatile approach, and many artists have embraced it to create stunning mixed-media works. Below are a few examples of artists and resources that can inspire you, along with links to supplies and info:
- Heather Tracy https://thegraphicsfairy.com/faux-encaustic-technique/
- Seth Apter https://www.sethapter.com/
- Christina Lovisa https://www.christinalovisa.com/
- Patti Brady https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/acrylic/acrylic-encaustic-art/
- Kathy Adams https://guides.brit.co/guides/faux-encaustic-with-acrylic-mediums-by-kathy- adams
- Sandra Duran Wilson https://www.sandraduranwilson.com/
- Pam Nichols https://pamlnichols.com/section/485040-Residue.html
- Online Communities & Videos: Check out mixed-media art communities for discussions on faux encaustic. For example, Make It Artsy featured Seth Apter demonstrating a layered acrylic encaustic effect, and artists like Shary Bartlett (who works in both real and faux encaustic) have online tutorials blending the two. Pinterest boards (search “faux encaustic art”) offer plenty of visual inspiration from different artists, showing the diversity of looks you can achieve from misty vintage collages to bold contemporary abstracts .
- Product Suppliers: All the acrylic mediums mentioned are readily available. Golden Artist Colours and Liquitex are two top brands for gels and mediums. You can find these at art supply stores or online. Look for specific products like Golden Soft Gel (Matte), Golden Clear Tar Gel, Liquitex Pouring Medium, etc. Many of these companies also have tech sheets and examples on their websites (Golden’s Just Paint newsletter has an article on encaustic effects with more recipes ).
Please adhere to all product safety notices and make sure you have adequate ventilation and cleanup materials to hand.
Sources:
Traditional encaustic definitions and history, Golden Paints technical guidance on acrylic “encaustic” mixtures, artist tutorials and examples from Heather Tracy , Seth Apter , Arlene Toth , Sandra Duran Wilson and more, as cited throughout. For product info, see Golden Artist Colours Gel & Medium descriptions. Available in the UK from Jacksons Art, London Graphic Center.