Indigo

by: Donna Goold

size: 24cm x 24cm in a black satin box frame

type: Wax on gesso panel

Painting with molten wax, known as encaustic painting, originated in Greece over 2000 years ago. It is a very stable and long-lasting medium; examples from A.D 100 can be seen in The British Museum, where the colours still glow vibrantly today.
The encaustic process involves melting beeswax, damar resin and pigment to a temperature of 72°C, before applying it to a prepared surface. Each application of molten wax must be fused to ensure adhesion to the layers below.

Donna has adapted this ancient technique to her own unique way of working. In this woodland scenes, she risks losing the entire image by re-heating it after all the work is complete so that the painting completely liquifies into one image. Once cured, she has meticulously polished the surface to enhance the colours and reveal their radiance.