(Bees)Waxing Euphoric
Beeswax is one of those materials that I use in spurts mostly because it requires special handling. I keep my beeswax in a dedicated mini-crock pot. It takes some time to heat up each time I use it so when I plug that puppy in, I usually spend a goodly amount of time playing with it.
Playing with beeswax is magic because you never really know how the beeswax is going to react with paper - especially old paper. Today I used it with a scrap of vintage ledger page and Joss paper for ATC/ACEO #82 in my year-long daily art project. I love how it turned the Joss paper into a vision of orange and gold!
I also continued working the wax on three canvas boards I started yesterday afternoon. Each of these pieces has multiple layers of beeswax and the beeswax is used here not only as a finish but as the actual glue for the collage! I did not use any mediums or adhesives to collage my items to the board - it's all done with the wax. I use a heat embossing tool to smooth the wax once it has cooled. I also have a small quilting iron for this purpose but I don't like using it as much as I tend to burn my fingers on it and if you don't hold it just so, it will gouge into the wax.
I spent a good portion of the day prepping for the collage class I'm teaching at The Red Thread Studio this Saturday. It's sure to be a fun time. Hope you can join us! The class runs from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the gallery. All you need to bring is your self, a magazine, a pair of scissors and something to protect your clothing. To sign up, please call Angelia at the gallery. (757) 923-9832.
Hi Jeannine
Have enjoyed catching up on your latest atc's and activities. You've been very busy and doing some great things. These beeswax pieces are gorgeous, the soft effect of the wax really suits the vintage images.
The collage class sounds great, wish I was closer ;) Have fun!
Posted by: denise | February 18, 2008 at 11:11 PM
I have wanted to try to wax stuff a long time now but I don't have all that kind of equipment. COuld you melt it in a pan on the stove and kind of smear it from there? just to try? what do you think?
Posted by: iHanna | February 19, 2008 at 03:49 AM
Sounds like fun! Never tried it my self. Your pieces look great, especially like the one with the tree.
Posted by: violetkey | February 19, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Those collages look marvelous -- I wish I could attend Saturday's class but I cannot. I hope you'll be teaching more?
Posted by: Alison Whittington | February 20, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Wow, the beeswax gives it a really soft, luminous quality. It looks lovely.
Posted by: Andrea Mitchell | February 22, 2008 at 03:55 AM
hey gal!
just stopping by to wave-a-hello to ya! and catch up on your blog.
it looks like you have been a busy grrrl!
it all looks lovely!
Posted by: ~tracey | February 25, 2008 at 10:16 AM
I've never worked with beeswax but would like to. One thing I've wondered about: Doesn't dust and other dirt kind of stick to the wax and then the piece gets that icky sort of feeling, like a dusty candle?
Is there any way to keep the item clean, other than putting it in a binder or something?
I like your work very much, BTW.
Thanks!
Posted by: Sandra | February 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM