Cold wax is a painting medium with a whole genre of painting associated with it. The medium is neither defined by the subject matter nor the degree of its realism or abstraction, rather, it is unified by artists’ shared interest in experimentation, texture, and physicality of paint layers. Cold wax actually blurs the line between oil painting and encaustic painting.
Cold wax and acrylic paint
Acrylic paint and cold wax cannot be mixed. On top of acrylic art, though, you can work with cold wax and oils. Before beginning a cold wax painting with acrylics, it is advised that you cover the surface of a dry acrylic painting with clear gesso.
Painting with cold wax over acrylics
According to Golden Artist Color, ammonia is the main element that takes a while to leave from acrylic gesso and acrylic paint. Acrylic dries through the evaporation of water, but it cures when all evaporative substances leak outside the dried paint coat. For this reason, Golden Artists Colors advises covering the entire surface with transparent gesso and allowing it to fully dry before beginning to paint with the cold wax media.
Cold wax and acrylic painting supports
You can improve your cold wax and acrylic painting by learning about cold wax and acrylic painting supports. Top cold wax, acrylic, and encaustic workshops, provided by institutions such as Art and Success, can help you significantly improve your cold wax and acrylic painting by helping you appreciate some of the support you require.
Many different kinds of supports can be painted while using cold wax. Among these supports are wooden panels or cradled panels, multi-media art boards, ampersand encaustic and gesso board, and arches oilpaper.
For better presentation, you will need to frame your painting behind glass if you decide to paint on Arches oil paper, which typically comes in pads, sheets, and rolls. Alternatively, you can mount your painting on a solid panel.
According to the Art and Success watch and learn videos, cold wax media works on paper but shouldn't be rolled or bent because it can cause the surface to fracture. Additionally, this paper doesn't require gessoing before being painted with cold wax.
A multi-media art board is a fantastic surface for a variety of media. It is also available in a range of sizes. Additionally, you can paint on this surface with cold wax without first applying gesso.
The encaustic and gesso board from Ampersand serves as another support. Many cold wax painters prefer both of these items, which are available in flat or cradled panels.
Wooden panels or cradled panels are additional supports. If the panels are made of untreated wood, gesso is necessary. Apply one or two coats of acrylic gesso, letting each coat dry between applications, for better results with cold wax and acrylic. Cold waxing the panels is beneficial because the stiffness of the panels prevents the paint coating from bending over time.
Art workshop online
You can also improve your cold wax and acrylic painting by enrolling in an art workshop online. Some online art workshops have the additional benefit of providing artists with additional resources, such as Art and Success's watch and learn library.
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