A History Etched in Wax
A History Etched in Wax
From Ancient Greece to Jasper Johns
Somewhere beneath the ash of ancient fires, art was burning.
The Greeks called it enkaustikos, to burn in. And that’s exactly what they did. With molten beeswax and fire-heated tools, they painted ships, statues, and sarcophagi. Not just to decorate, but to preserve. To give memory permanence. To fuse soul and surface.¹
The earliest known encaustic works come from the 5th century BCE, but it was the painter Pausias in the 4th century BCE who perfected the technique. He wasn’t just painting, he was pioneering. Pausias painted portraits, flowers, and allegorical figures with a depth and radiance the world had never seen. His work burned its way into the history of art, both literally and metaphorically.²
This process of “burning in” color isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Each layer must be sealed with heat, fused, not dried. This is what makes encaustic… encaustic. It’s a ritual of layering memory. The flame becomes a brush, the brush becomes an invocation.³
Fast Forward to the 20th Century
Centuries passed. Techniques were lost, then reborn.
And then came Jasper Johns, the grandfather of modern encaustic.
In the 1950s, Johns resurrected the medium in a way no one expected. His iconic Flag (1954–55) was painted in encaustic, bringing the ancient medium into postwar America.⁴ Layered, textured, imperfect, his works carried both weight and vulnerability. Wax became contemporary. History caught fire again.
Why Encaustic Needs No Glass
Unlike oils or acrylics, encaustic dries to a hard, skin-like finish. It’s luminous and protective. The surface is warm and touchable, glossy like polished marble.
You don’t need to hide it behind glass. In fact, it shouldn’t be hidden at all.⁵
Quick Storage Tips: Honor the Medium
Encaustic is strong but sensitive, like any living thing.
Avoid extreme heat or cold. Wax won’t melt unless exposed to temperatures above 150°F, but prolonged heat (like leaving it in a car) can cause warping or softening.⁶
Freezing temperatures can cause cracking or delamination.
Buff the surface gently with a soft cloth or nylon stocking if it begins to look cloudy. This restores the gloss as the wax continues to cure over 1–3 years.⁷
Treat it with reverence, and it will age like skin—gracefully, subtly, beautifully.
Safety Is Sacred
Encaustic is a sacred practice, but it’s still fire.
Never leave your heat source unattended.
Keep flammable materials away.
Wear protective gear when working with shellac, burns, or torches.
Always have a fire extinguisher close by, and know how to use it.
If you work with pigments, educate yourself on toxicity and ventilation.
This isn’t to scare you. It’s to honor the medium. Because encaustic isn’t just about beauty, it’s about responsibility, control, and devotion.
Wax remembers the warmth of your hands. Resin remembers the trees.
Together, they hold time.