Encaustic Bubbles- Abstract Wax Art using Incised Lines

Encaustic Bubbles

I’m not sure where my fascination with clusters of shapes and holes comes from, but I find myself coming back to this type of work again and again.  From my quilled abstract works to this new line of encaustic pieces, clusters of circles are everywhere.  I guess you could call me a trypophile, rather than a trypophobe.  (FYI- don’t google trypophobia unless you want to fill your mind with disturbing images!)

One of my favorite encaustic techniques is incised lines, where you use an awl to draw into the surface of the wax, then fill those lines with wax or oil paint.  It’s a really fun technique that allows for a lot of detailed results.  This line of work is an evolution of that technique, and it’s my new favorite style.

By the way, if you’re interested in learning this technique, I have an online course that goes through everything you need to know to get started drawing details into the surface of your encaustic paintings.

Here’s the how-to

• Add a few layers of encaustic medium to your substrate
• Drip the wax color of your choice onto the surface where you want your bubbles to be.
• Fuse very carefully- if you fuse too much, you will just blend the colors together.  If you don’t fuse enough, you could peel the circles from the surface as you draw lines around them.
• Use the pointy end of a clay tool or awl to carve lines around the circles of dripped wax.
• Fuse again gently to reduce the reside that accumulates around the carved lines.  This step helps the bubbles become rounder, but again, don’t fuse too much.
• Wait until the surface cools.  Then take oil paint in the color of your choice and fill in the lines.  Don’t forget to wear gloves when you do this.
• Wipe away the excess paint with linseed oil.

There you have it!  Your guide to a beautiful, fun and textured encaustic piece.