Encaustic: Polishing Paintings

Cynthia Winika, Accidental Mycologist, 20” x 20”, encaustic and mushroom spores, 2006.

Encaustic work can be finished to have a wonderful natural sheen simply by polishing with a soft cloth (microfiber rags and pantyhose work very well) or the palm of your hand. Encaustic naturally has the appearance of a varnished surface, so there really is no need to varnish or seal your painting with additional materials. Using a varnish could also partially dissolve the wax over time so it's best to rely on the natural beauty of wax.

It takes around 3-6 months for the damar in an encaustic painting to cure, at this point the painting will hold a buff when polished. We recommend buffing roughly once a year - this will keep the piece looking at its best and make the surface unattractive to dust.

Lay the piece to be polished out flat onto a hard surface. Using a soft rag or the palm of your hand press firmly (but don't press too hard) against the surface of your painting making concentric circles. Continue over the complete surface of your work until you capture the polished sheen you desire. This polishing action will add depth to the colors, refreshing the vitality of your imagery and artwork.