Encaustic is a wax paint composed of beeswax, resin and pigment.  The wax is melted on a heated palette and applied to a porous surface while molten, then reheated to fuse the wax to the surface or layer below.

It’s surface can be polished to a high gloss, carved, scraped, layered, collaged, dipped, cast, modeled, sculpted, textured, and combined with oil.  Encaustic does not need to be under glass or varnished because the beeswax is impervious to moisture.  Aside from being scratched the surface is very durable.  Overtime paraffins continue to rise to the surface and a dusty appearance or ‘bloom’ may appear on the surface.  This is easily removed by buffing with a lint free cloth.