Jen Matott here with a unique artwork to share! I am currently obsessed with Encaustic painting and have been experimenting with sculptural forms. Encaustics is painting with melted wax and it's addictive!
I was trying to create a "beehive" form with chicken wire and had the idea to dip it in wax but the wax wouldn't stick to the metal because it gets HOT so the wax melted off! I wanted to cover parts of the wire with tissue paper, which might make the wax adhere better, but the metal kept heating up too much for it to stick. I was getting a bit discouraged. I decided to try to use the Helmar Decoupage & Craft Paste to adhere the paper to the wire. Would it work? YOU BET!
I used a foam brush to apply the paste to the paper in sections. I added it to the wire and brushed a bit more on to smooth down. Once it dried, it shrunk a bit and stayed put! It had a matte finish and took the wax beautifully! I was able to brush wax on and it stayed on the paper perfectly.
Here is a look at the sculpture from the inside. You can see the chicken wire better and if you are interested in learning more about Encaustic, I will be teaching a class in August online. More information will be on my blog soon.
There is a Helmar product for all your adhesion needs! I was thrilled that the Decoupage & Craft Paste worked so well for this project!!
Supplies:
Helmar Decoupage & Craft Paste
Chicken wire
Dress patterns
Foam brush
Beeswax
