How to add fine details to encaustic paintings
You might be thinking that it is hard to create delicate lines and fine details with wax and a torch. However, with the right tools, supplies, and a bit of practice it is not that difficult. These are my favorite art supplies for painting tiny areas and precise details.
India Ink
India ink works great over or under encaustic paint. You can apply the ink with a small brush or a dip pen.
Neocolor II
Much like India Ink these crayons work well under or over Encaustic paint. You can sharpen the tip and write directly on the surface or use a small brush, dipped in water, to apply the color to the painting
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Small Natural Bristle Brushes
If you prefer to keep your artwork strictly encaustic, you can use small natural bristle brushes with the wax. The wax will cool off a bit quicker on the smaller brushes, but they do work nicely. You may have to dip your brush into the hot wax more often.
Inktense Pencils
These pencils are water-soluble and permanent when dry. You can sharpen them to a very fine tip point. Dip the point into a bit of water and then draw onto the encaustic painting.
Note: All of the above techniques require fusing.
The fusing is a bit more difficult with tiny details. So This is where the practice comes in. I find that a very small, low flame from a torch works best. You just want to ever so slightly and very lightly go over these details. If you fuse too much the details will move around or be completely eliminated
Wax Writer
One of my new favorite tools is the wax writer. This screws onto the end of a heat tool. The encaustic paint stays liquified in the tool. You can get very precise encaustic lines and details with this tool. If you warm the surface first and then apply the details with the wax writer there is no need to fuse. Thus eliminating the worry of obliterating the detail you just applied.
See this encaustic wax writer in action
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