Enkaustikos was founded on the premise of bringing the
highest quality—and safest—materials to artists worldwide
Michael Lesczinski, President
Our Formulation
Our original formulations were developed by Ann
Huffman, the 2012 recipient of the International
Encaustic Association’s LaVendeene Award. Ann
began her formula with pharmaceutical grade
beeswax which is intended for cosmetics and
medicines. Consequently, it is often considered too
expensive for paint making. Ann selected it regardless
of cost because it is mechanically filtered, not
purified using harsh chemicals or bleach. Pharmaceutical
grade beeswax is still the main ingredient
in Enkaustikos’ paint today. Ann then experimented
with various proportions of beeswax to damar
until determining that a 6 to 1 ratio was perfect, for
one simple reason: she was able to work with wax
paint in the lower temperature ranges of 150 to 175
degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temperatures create
less fumes and smoke providing a healthier studio
environment. Working at lower temperatures also
enabled her to pour her paint into tins to heat and
reheat over and over again without damaging the
paint’s integrity.
Ann next invented a line of heated wax pen point
attachments, wax writers, heated brass filament
brushes and specialty tools designed to free up
the creative spirit of the artist. Today, Lisa Lesczinski
continues this tradition of excellence in craftsmanship
by producing every hot brush, pen point
attachment and wax writer by hand, one at a time.
Every brush is unique and a “work of art” in its own
right.
Investment in Technology
In 1996 Ann retired and we purchased her
company and moved its operation from Oregon to
upstate New York. Today, Ann continues to work
with Enkaustikos, researching and developing new
products. Our goal from the very beginning is to
make the finest paint available and Ann’s formulations
offered us the ideal starting point. To make
professional quality paint requires milling, the
process of shearing pigment particles. Pigments
are sheered to produce paint with a cleaner, brighter
chroma. Sheering also eliminates agglomerates
(pigment clumping). Making pigment particles
smaller allows us to increase the pigment load
producing a heavily pigmented paint that can be
used for encaustic print making and directly with a
brush for painting. Our heavily pigmented paint also
allows artists to extend our paints with wax medium
to produce thin, translucent veils of color or simply
to make paint more economical.
Hot Cakes in ready-to-heat tins.
Enkaustikos pen points are just one of several
handmade wax pen attachments.
Winter
Enkaustikos
Portfolio
11
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