Using quality products empowers artists to delve deeper, achieving a surface quality that endures a lifetime.

In the encaustic process, the medium and tools wielded are pivotal to the artwork's success, fostering a collaboration between artist and materials rather than strict control.

This symbiotic relationship between artist and material is truly magical. To achieve it authentically, we rely on beeswax, damar resin, paint pigments, and shellac, in their natural states.

Our products are born from time-honored techniques and methods, crafted from the finest beeswax, damar resin, dry pigments, and minerals sourced globally to ensure optimal results for our users.

Proudly made in South Africa by passionate individuals, including our furry friends who provide on-site emotional support and encouragement.

Cold Wax

dense transparent paste

Cold wax medium has emerged as a versatile and captivating material in the realm of visual arts. Used alongside oil paints, it offers artists a myriad of opportunities to enhance their creations with texture, depth, and visual intrigue.

Unlike traditional wax mediums, cold wax remains solid at room temperature, eliminating the need for heat.

Our luxurious and quality Cold Wax is made from naturally bleached beeswax, resin, and Gamblin solvents.

It yields a creamy, paste-like consistency that is also transparent.

The cold wax medium enables artists to build rich, layered surfaces.

This medium's versatility extends beyond traditional painting, inviting artists to incorporate diverse materials and techniques, from collage to printmaking, into their compositions. Whether used alone or in conjunction with other mediums, cold wax inspires creativity and offers endless avenues for artistic exploration.

It can also be used to seal acrylic paintings and watercolor paintings.

Encaustic Medium

Transparent or White

Encaustic medium serves as the foundational component for all commercially available encaustic paints.

This versatile substance is crafted from a harmonious blend of naturally bleached beeswax and damar resin.

Our Transparent medium offers a myriad of possibilities—it can be utilized as a primer, a translucent paint, or blended with color pigments to produce your own radiant hues.

For those seeking a pristine canvas or desiring to craft custom-tinted colors, our White medium is the perfect solution. Formulated with naturally bleached beeswax, damar resin, white pigment, and calcium carbonate, it provides an ideal base for your creative endeavors.

Heat

The encaustic medium is kept heated during the painting process. Any heating surface such as a griddle, electric skillet or hot plate that can regulate the heat will work.

Many heat application methods have been tried and tested. We do not stock but recommend the Bernzomatic TS3500KC multi-use torch kit with a trigger-start ignition and adjustable flame control knob allowing controlled movements.

Propane gas is long-lasting and refills can be found at hardware stores.

You can also try a heatgun or creme brulee torch.

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Basic Grounds

Birchwood Panels

Most artists use wood-based panels as it is rigid and very absorbent.

Birchwood is recommended as it is a hardwood that retains the heat longer (allowing the artist to use heat for longer).

We prefer plywood as it is sustainable on the environment.

The birchwood panels are imported from Europe and meet all international sustainability standards.

Other Grounds

Other grounds include:

Absorbent natural fibre paper. Heavier papers, such as a 300 gram watercolor paper, provide a rigid support although Japanese papers are recommended. Encaustic on paper may require mounting on panels, framed under glass, suspended or pinned to a wall. The wax seals the paper and naturally protects it from damage from light.
Clay
Cement
Natural fibre fabric such as linen or cotton.

Make Encaustic Medium

Bleached Beeswax

We prefer 100% Natural Beeswax with no synthetic or chemical ingredients. Yes, we also sell it in case you want to customise the encaustic medium.

The yellow beeswax that you find at your local beekeeper will also work although it is not fully transparent.

Damar Resin

make your own encaustic medium

Damar is tree glue or gum from deciduous trees found in India and East Asia. Most is produced by tapping trees, however, some is collected in fossilised form on the ground. The gum varies in colour from clear to pale yellow, while the fossilised form is grey-brown.

The damar resin can be packaged in any quantity.

Imported from Germany and of superior quality.

Color Pigments

Finely ground, 100% pure pigments are used to create colorful medium, and can be added to:

Encaustic medium
Shellac
Linseed oil (oil colors)
Gel medium (acrylic)
Gum arabic (watercolor)
Cold Wax

We import Gamblin, the best quality pigment all the way from Portland, USA.

Adding Color

Wax Sticks

We do not stock Wax Sticks but recommend that you make your own by mixing encaustic medium with color pigment. 50/50 ratio.

These sticks are also great for encaustic monoprint making or any mark-making.

Bristle Brushes

painting tool

Natural Fibre Brushes: We sell tried and tested quality natural fibre brushes from Prime Art in various shapes and sizes (and at the best prices).

A variety of tools such as ceramic tools, woodcarving tools and printmaking tools can be used to create incisions and texture.

Look in our shop for some ideas.

Shellac

create unique

burn technique

Dewaxed Blonde Shellac Flakes

Use to create a shellac burn technique that is unique to encaustic art paintings.

Create a shellac solution by dissolving the shellac flakes in methylated spirits or denatured alcohol.

Can be mixed with color pigments to create a variety of shellac burn colors or used in its natural form.

Imported from Germany and of the highest grade.

Starter Kits

There are three starter packs to choose from:

Let's Get Started with all the basics

The Extras: The Basics plus additional pigments, boards and brushes

Torching It: All the Extras plus a Bernzomatic torch.