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Andrea Evans · 05-30-2002, 08:30 PM

Hello,Rochelle, Peter, Khaimraj, et al,

I have been reading this thread regarding using wax as a medium. Some years ago, I attended a furniture restoration workshop at Sotheby's Restoration in New York City. One of the classes was on French polishing with Eli Rios. (French polish is shellac dissolved in alcohol.) This involved removing the old finish and freshly applying the new polish. This is then protected by applying a beeswax and turpentine mixture. This is a soft wax that is buffed to a lovely sheen. Sometimes carnauba wax (derived from a plant and a harder wax)is added to the beeswax and raises the melting temperature of the wax. I believe that Johnson's Paste Wax and a lot of the automobile waxes contain carnauba.

I was wondering if I could apply the beeswax/mineral spirits to an oil painting that is thoroughly dry and buff gently. Does any member of the forum do this? I do not see that it would hurt the painting and can be removed with mineral spirits later. Maybe this would give the painting a matte finish. Of course, instructions would have to be attached to the back of the painting for a future cleaning and rewaxing of the painting. I'll just give it a try and let you know.

I remember one of my painting teachers from college saying that he had painted a portrait using a wax medium in his paint. His client placed the painting on the edge of a table, leaning the painting against the wall. The table was moved. The painting dropped to the floor, jarred the canvas, and some of the paint fell off. Could the humidity/heat in New Orleans have had something to do with this?

Perhaps these paintings should be painted on board to support the paint which must be applied in thicker layers than oil. If the wax and pigment is used correctly, it is beautiful and can last for thousands of years. The Greco-Egyptian painters used encaustic in painting realistic funerary likenesses.

Also, art conservators and restorers have used and some may still use beeswax and turpentine or mineral spirits in relining paintings. One reason they did/do is because this is reversible (the wax mixture can be softened later with mineral spirits or warmed and the lining removed from the painting).

Rochelle, is it possible that the painting you saw was done with colored pencil? Was it a small painting? If the colored pencil strokes are built up layer upon layer on a solid surface such as a gessoed masonite panel, it can result in a soft waxy matte surface. Using light sprays of fixative between layers helps to build up more layers. Some artists use a solvent brushed into the colored pencil and this helps to even out the strokes. I know that the painting you saw was indeed special to have drawn you to it.

I apologize to everyone for running off on different thoughts stimulated by your postings.

05-30-2002, 08:30 PM	#20
Andrea Evans Associate Member PT Pro Joined: Aug 2001 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 27	Beeswax/solvent used as wax on top of oil painting Hello,Rochelle, Peter, Khaimraj, et al, I have been reading this thread regarding using wax as a medium. Some years ago, I attended a furniture restoration workshop at Sotheby's Restoration in New York City. One of the classes was on French polishing with Eli Rios. (French polish is shellac dissolved in alcohol.) This involved removing the old finish and freshly applying the new polish. This is then protected by applying a beeswax and turpentine mixture. This is a soft wax that is buffed to a lovely sheen. Sometimes carnauba wax (derived from a plant and a harder wax)is added to the beeswax and raises the melting temperature of the wax. I believe that Johnson's Paste Wax and a lot of the automobile waxes contain carnauba. I was wondering if I could apply the beeswax/mineral spirits to an oil painting that is thoroughly dry and buff gently. Does any member of the forum do this? I do not see that it would hurt the painting and can be removed with mineral spirits later. Maybe this would give the painting a matte finish. Of course, instructions would have to be attached to the back of the painting for a future cleaning and rewaxing of the painting. I'll just give it a try and let you know. I remember one of my painting teachers from college saying that he had painted a portrait using a wax medium in his paint. His client placed the painting on the edge of a table, leaning the painting against the wall. The table was moved. The painting dropped to the floor, jarred the canvas, and some of the paint fell off. Could the humidity/heat in New Orleans have had something to do with this? Perhaps these paintings should be painted on board to support the paint which must be applied in thicker layers than oil. If the wax and pigment is used correctly, it is beautiful and can last for thousands of years. The Greco-Egyptian painters used encaustic in painting realistic funerary likenesses. Also, art conservators and restorers have used and some may still use beeswax and turpentine or mineral spirits in relining paintings. One reason they did/do is because this is reversible (the wax mixture can be softened later with mineral spirits or warmed and the lining removed from the painting). Rochelle, is it possible that the painting you saw was done with colored pencil? Was it a small painting? If the colored pencil strokes are built up layer upon layer on a solid surface such as a gessoed masonite panel, it can result in a soft waxy matte surface. Using light sprays of fixative between layers helps to build up more layers. Some artists use a solvent brushed into the colored pencil and this helps to even out the strokes. I know that the painting you saw was indeed special to have drawn you to it. I apologize to everyone for running off on different thoughts stimulated by your postings. __________________ Andrea - [email protected]