Mixed Media – Glass, Wax and Oil Paintings

By Sue Bartlett

Wax paintings stand the test of time.  You can see portraits in the British Museum that are still intact and some are believed to be over 2000 years old.

One question that is often asked is ‘will the wax melt?’  Beeswax melts at around 150 degrees centigrade, giving rise to one artists comment:  ‘if the wax painting is melting, there isn’t a problem with the wax… your house is on fire!’

Wax does prefer heat to cold however, and it can happily withstand heat generated from lighting, but at the opposite end of the scale, it doe not like freezing temperatures.  It is preferable not to place the piece directly in front of a sunlit window on an extremely hot day as, like all paintings, fading could occur.

One of the beauties of the wax is that it is very tactile and, while it looks fragile, is actually quite robust.  A natural resin is added to the wax, which allows the wax to harden even further over time.

Like any painting, it is susceptible to damage from a hard knock.  Should this happen it can easily be repaired.  Obviously, once hung, the painting is perfectly safe.

Lastly, if necessary, the painting can be cleaned with tepid water on a damp cloth and polished afterwards.  Finger marks on canvas can be erased gently with a baby wipe.

All designs belong to the creator Sue Bartlett and cannot be copied for any purposes without permission from the artist.  For further information please contact the gallery.