What basic materials do artists need to start working with CWM ? With these few basic items , anyone can begin experimenting : cold wax medium , a selection of oil paints , a silicone squeegee , a rubber brayer , a palette knife , a few tools for making marks and textures , some graphite or powdered pigment , nitrile gloves , and paper towels . Some artists use traditional brushes . Multimedia Artboard or Arches Oil Paper are great surfaces for beginners . They require no priming or preparation . While a bit of odorless mineral spirits can be used for cleanup , vegetable or mineral oil are safer , cheaper alternatives .
Are there any safety issues working with CWM ? In general , cold wax medium is a very safe product . Because of the solvent , it is flammable and requires adequate ventilation — though not to the degree that encaustic does . For artists who prefer to work solvent-free , a recipe using only linseed or other drying oil is an option . These solvent-free formulations require much more drying time than the solvent-based products , sometimes weeks . Any artists who works with dry pigments must take appropriate precautions to avoid inhalation .
Do people make their own CWM ? Yes , artists who are process oriented or who want control over the exact content and handling of their medium definitely make their own . It is a bit cheaper , but generally requires heating of solvents . Appropriate safety precautions must be followed . While CWM is readily available in North America and has increasing availability worldwide , because of high cost and inconvenience some artists in other countries make their own .