Caring for Your Encaustic Painting

Encaustic is a wax based paint that consists of beeswax, damar resin, and pigment. Encaustic paintings are extremely durable due to the fact that beeswax seals out moisture and air and filters out a large portion of UV light. Because of this it will not deteriorate, yellow or darken.

Will it melt?

Because of the resin added to the wax, encaustic cures and the surface hardens. The painting is stable under normal temperatures. Although it may soften slightly on a hot day, only direct heat or temperatures in excess of 140 degrees or below 35 degrees will affect the painting. Like all fine art, it is best not to hang it in direct sunlight.

Cleaning and Buffing

An encaustic painting may develop a film on the surface for the first six to twelve months as the wax cures. This is a natural process called "bloom" and is easily removed, along with shallow scratches, by wiping the surface with a soft cloth. Dusting the painting surface with a soft brush and buffing it with a soft cloth periodically will maintain the unique patina of the wax.

Always protect the surface and edges of the encaustic painting when moving it. I have provided a box for your painting for easier handling. Although the surface is completely dry, encaustic paintings can be easily scratched, gouged, or chipped if handled roughly and should be treated carefully as you would all pieces of fine art.