Caring for your Artworks

 
Encaustic paintings are very durable. The beeswax and demar resin are impervious to moisture, making them extremely archival; they will not yellow or darken. Even though they are extremely archival, encaustics should be handled with care to avoid scratching the surface and to protect the edges.

Under normal temperatures an encaustic painting is stable. However, it can melt at high temperatures about 150 degrees. Care should be taken to hang your encaustic art away from direct sunlight, or any other source of heat. You should also be careful not to subject your piece to temperatures below -30°C as cold can make the wax brittle and susceptible to cracking. Never leave your encaustic painting in a very hot or very cold car.

Encaustic painting as oil painting, cures with exposure to the air through an oxidation process, and until about 6 months after the last time we have heated the encaustic medium we can not consider it cured. During this time moisture will work its way to the surface and may cause a slight haze called a “bloom” If your artwork looks dull or cloudy it can be buffed (gently and firmly) but not overly vigorously using a pair of clean panty hose. If the bloom appears repeat the buffing process. Once an encaustic art piece is fully cured and buffed it will shine like granite!

Examples of encaustic paintings have survived from the Greek and Roman empire and are still as vibrant and colorful today as they were when they were painted 3500 years ago!