Finished this painting today. I've decided I want to concentrate mostly on animal portraits

[PlutosHeart]

86. Have you tried oil pastels?

I think there is much to be said of staying with one thing and pushing it as far as it can go. Spreading myself out so much was both a blessing and a curse. When I used double boilers and such for making my own encaustic paintings, it was always a bit scary tbh. Later on, I worked more on archival papers with isolated grounds and a pre-made encaustic medium in a tin. There is layering and transparency with using it somewhat akin to egg-tempera.

One thing I would say is to consider the toxicity. If you are breathing in the pastels or if working with oil or anything the pigments and solutions can be vile.

Yes! I recall a wax ironing in grade school. Even embedding things like leaves and such in it. Maybe my love of encaustic also stems from Ukranian egg painting in Catholic grade school. And church candles. I always thought of them/my paintings as votives. Guess it was what I was known for really.

I look forward to more of your posts and especially your focus on animals. It heightens awareness in these times which is much needed.