Satellite Studios at Mars Landing
37 Library StreetEncaustics for Beginners with Denby Dale.
Curious about encaustic but don't know where to start?
Creating art with heated wax paint requires specialized tools, materials, and a unique studio setup, which can feel intimidating to beginners. This hands-on introductory workshop is the perfect place to begin. You'll learn the fundamental principles and techniques of encaustic while experimenting with the medium in a prepped studio —allowing you to experience its malleable and luminous qualities without first investing in an entire encaustic setup. Play, experiment, and discover whether encaustic is a medium you'd like to pursue further.
Designed as the foundation to a continuing series of encaustic workshops at Mars Landing Arts Center, this class will give you a realistic understanding of what working with encaustic involves and what it takes to build an encaustic practice. Whether your curiosity ends here or inspires you to continue, you'll leave with a solid introduction to the medium and an appreciation for the depth of the medium and the many creative possibilities that unfold with continued practice.
Some of the basics we will be covering:
- An introduction to the supplies, tools, and materials needed to get started with encaustic, including:
- Short history of the medium
- Ingredients & properties & of encaustic paint
- Tools and equipment
- Appropriate substrates and grounds
- Basic fusing with heat and flame (each student will have a mini heat gun to use during class)
- Safe studio practices
Hands-on learning & experimentation:
- Learn how to prep flat panels with clear encaustic medium and ‘fuse’ layers
- Add additional color to your panels with wax-based crayons and other media
- Play with graphite transfers
- Add small collage elements, papers
- Alter and incise the surface of your panel using X-acto knives and lightweight carving tools
- Layer clear wax over your marks to create ‘floating’ and textured effects
- Use a mini heat gun to seal subsequent layers into your composition
- Complete your own 8” x 8” artwork panel
Supplies provided but feel free to bring your own X-acto or carving knives/implements, papers or lightweight collage elements, if you choose.
All materials supplied require an additional $45 fee, paid to the instructor on the day of the workshop via cash, check, or Venmo.
Materials include encaustic medium, encaustic brushes & tools, mini heat guns, wax-based crayons and other mark-making media, small wood panels and an 8” x 8” cradled panel.
Please NOTE: For this beginner’s workshop, we will be working with clear encaustic medium only, not pigmented encaustic paint. To meet the learning curve on applying and ‘fusing’ encaustic, clear medium is the best place to start. However, I will have other media we can use to add color and marks to our panels.
Sat, Aug 15, 2026 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Satellite Studios at Mars Landing
37 Library Street
We are an independent arts center, collaborating with artists and non-profits to bring the arts from around the corner to around the world for our WNC community. We curate exhibitions, artist talks, performances, film screenings, and workshops. We also offer affordable art studios and spaces, as well as an art boutique with original works by our local artists. Contact us!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.marslandingartscenter.com
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