Don't foil yourself

Okay...so it's silly play on words because I DO want you to get out that foil.

and the beeswax.

Now, in all fairness....I have not only used regular beeswax but lots of pigment beeswax colors that I buy at the art store. My favorite brand are made by R & F and they are actually referred to as encaustic paint. That means its made up of beeswax, resin and pigment. I was introduced to these when I took some classes from WaxWorks West in Corralitos, CA.

I brush on several layers of regular colorless beeswax then start brushing on layers of colored wax and, by heating between layers (called fusing) , I get these wonderful patterns.

Today I discovered that if I took the foils I had laying around (transfer foils, like for T shirt transfers) and used a pointed tool or even a wire brush I could get foil texture on my cooled wax.

all you need to do is lay the foil - COLOR SIDE UP FACING Y-O-U- on the cool surface & make a mark on it. I used a wire brush on this piece. The foil simply adheres. You don't have to do a single thing afterward.

Here is one where I made little flowers

I did it using the handle end of a brush to 'draw' the flowers.

if you foil and then decide to heat the foil it breaks up and you might get something like this

below is one of my favorite abstracts made mostly with plain beeswax and a minimum amount of pigment color.

and, of course you can stamp over beeswax...I used Ranger's Black Adirondack Pigment ink once the wax was totally cooled down.

On the sample below the black marks are made using Graphite Transfer paper. It is commonly used to transfer artwork or patterns onto wood, metal, paper or even ceramics. Art, craft & hobby stores would have it. It reminds me of old typewriter copy paper.

my favorite piece that I made today called "Looking back on life". What do YOU see? ....a girl in front of her house? ....leaving home?

These are some of the exciting ttechniques I'll be doing at

 

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and, on Saturday, May 22nd I'll be doing a WAX AND UTEE class called MELT ART MAYHEM at WaxWorksWest in Corralitos, CA which is on sale right now and only open to the first 10 who sign up. This is a special occasion class because I will be in the area for family.

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FYI: If you are looking for some cool ATC sized canvas (these are also great for wax)  look no further than USArtQuest. You get 25 pieces in a 'brick'... or... call Sue for info at 1-800-766-0728

Comments

[Starla]

I'm a "lurker" but just had to post tonight....OMG!! I just love the creativity with the bees wax and the colors!! I will have to investigate this technique more! (I think my favorite is the one you picked...and the bird...that one just seems so peaceful to me)

[lottie]

How stunning Suse. I adore all of them - and the colours are amazing. I never knew that encaustic colours were made up with beeswax - and I am sure I have some old typewriter carbon paper somewhere.

We have a beekeeper in the village and I have a wonderful block of wax from him. It smells divine and doesn't have any 'bodily parts' of bees etc. I guess he strains it.

[Joyce]

Now use those cool metal tools and wheels that Ten Second Studio has with the foil and you get some wonderful patterns! Same with the Graphite Paper. Wax is such a wonderful medium to play with. Loved how the "Looking back on Life" piece turned out.

[jennie]

wow that is awesome. cant wait to play when i get home from work.

[Kathy Gledsdale]

What totally gorgeous work Suze.

[Paula]

Thanks Suze for such great instructions for this new technique. I got some great new foils last week to play with, all i need now are the encaustic wax colours. Will definately be giving this a go as i really like abstract art.

Been searching for key ring with Johnny Depp as mad hatter & there is nothing here for us to purchase that is close to the quality of yours. The film doesn't seem to have taken off here quite so much. Am very disappointed but will keep looking.

Also been searching in shops for metal cookie cutters, again so hard to find; eventually found a set of 9 large different shapes for £5 from John Lewis. Still no luck with mini doughnut pans either; my search goes on & on.....

You take care & enjoy coming up with new techniques :-) xxx

[Nancy Bales]

The encaustics are wonderful. Where did you get the stamp?
Nancy

[Jozarty]

Just amazing to get something entirely new and so inspiring! Thanks for inventing it and I wonder if you will be doing this in England next visit?
I hope to be there as I enjoyed the last melt pot workshop sooooo much.
Jozarty x ( remember me and Letters from the Boys book?)

[Peggy]

Wow - too incredible. What a wealth of information you are!

[Ky Scrapacat]

Suze - this is absolute brilliance!! I can't wait to get my hands on some product and try it out! Thank you so much for sharing your little 'finds'!
~ky

[lorraine]

really like these thanks for giving us all these amazing ideas of what to do with our melt pots

[Hels Sheridan]

Whooo Hooo Suze, FAB technique...and thanks for sharing...I have a heap of that foil stuff kickin about and never really sussed out what to do with it...thank you!!! Hels x

[ScrappyDandyDoo]

Wow I love that technique - my melt pot is in the post as we speak :D
Julie xx