a tool kit containing everything I could possibly need to do some encaustic, or hot wax, painting. Which is kind of interesting, seeing as how I never put that on any Christmas list, or even mentioned it to Santa. Oh, it's not that I'm not interested in encaustics. I think it's a fascinating technique -- one that's been around since the early Egyptians. And I love the smell of beeswax. No, it's just that it's, well, dangerous, and I'm a great big ol' ninny! The first three things on the supply list were "ventilation fan, burn kit, and fire extinguisher", and I remember all too well that time Mom and I decided to make candles on the kitchen stove.
That kit might well have spent its days hidden away in a closet, were it not for muse Artsy Woman, who went absolutely bonkers when she heard what I got. Apparently she's been dying to give encaustics a try. When I suggested that we all get together for a play-date, to see if we can figure out how to do this without burning my house down, she insisted that we do it at her studio, which is separate from her home, and has proper ventilation. I feel much better knowing that at least one of us has experience dealing with toxic vapors!
In addition to everything in the kit -- the heated palette, surface thermometer, brushes, carving tools, heat gun, soy wax for cleaning brushes, encaustic medium and a variety of paint sticks -- he also brought me a bunch of books about encaustic...
and a variety of boards and panels for us to paint on.
I
Now, if only he weren't feeling quite so smug about managing to knock my socks off, yet again!
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5 comments:
He can be smug - he delighted 4 other women, Becky, not just you! All the muses are excited about our encaustic play day.
What a fabulous gift and thoughtful. Isn't it nice to get something that you didn't put on your "list" when someone knows just what you would like.
I asked him how he even came up with the idea, since I had never mentioned them at all. He said that whenever we're on vacation and I drag him into any art store I see, he doesn't just stand there twiddling his thumbs. He looks around for ideas, and when he saw the display of encaustic paint sticks, they just looked like something I would enjoy playing with. Is he a keeper, or what?
Since your weather is pretty good, just do it outside. You won't have any problems with the fumes from the resin then. I enjoy my foray into it and my friend Damini does it all the time. Watch out you might get hooked on that smoky wax. xox
I do love the smell of beeswax!
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