Wax is an excellent preservative of materials. It was due to this property that the art of encaustic painting developed. The Greeks applied coatings of wax and pitch to weatherproof their ships, later developing into decorating of warships and merchant ships.The use of  a rudimentary encaustic was an established practice by the 5th century B.C. 

The best known of all ancient encaustic works are the Fayum funeral portraits painted in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. by Greek painters in Egypt. Funeral portraits, painted either in the prime of one’s life or after death, were placed over the person’s mummy and was essential for the deceased to be recognized by Osiris and taken to the afterworld. Many of these pieces have survived to our own time, and their colour has remained as fresh as any recently completed work.

Encaustic painting was revived briefly in the 18th century. It was further explored in the 19th century to help solve the problem of dampness faced by painters in northern climates. The success was limited and encaustic remained an obscure art form for another century. In the 20th century, the availability of portable electric heating implements and the variety of tools has made encaustic much more accessible. This factor has created a resurgence of encaustic painting, and it is once again taking its place as a major artists’ medium.  

Encaustic is a painting medium composed of beeswax, damar resin and pigments. The term “Encaustic” is often used to describe both the paint itself, and the method for using it. Encaustic paint is applied molten to an absorbent surface, and then fused (or re-melted), to create a variety of effects. Unlike other paints, encaustic is never wet or dry – it goes from a liquid to solid state and back again in seconds, which means additional layers can be added immediately, without disrupting your composition. Once the surface has cooled, the paint has reached a permanent finish, but the painting can be revised and reworked with heat at any time – minutes or years later.