Cold Wax and Oils Demonstration Video

Come on in and join me in my sun room as I demonstrate painting with cold wax and oils. It’s a cold February morning when I sit down to start this contemporary cold wax painting. In fact, much too cold to be in my garage studio where I do the majority of my work. So, I lug in the easel,paints, canvas and palette and go to work on the painting using only a palette knife as my brush.

Over these past years, I’ve tested many different mediums to find out what works best to express my artistic vision.  I was first introduced to cold wax at a local art exhibit where an abstract painting caught my eye. It looked like oils, but not quite. How did the artist get the texture and the ability to sketch into the medium? After some research, I soon found cold wax to be a great counterpart to my encaustic work. Whenever I need a break from the heat, I switch it up and cool down with cold wax. Or, in this case, to escape a cold art studio! In addition, I feel safer bringing this medium into my home compared to a blowtorch and molten beeswax!

The painting was inspired by the moody blues and grays of winter scenery here in Loudoun County, Virginia. Winter is one of my favorite times of the year to paint dramatic bare trees against clear blue skies. I’ve tried to capture in this painting the time of year when we yearn to be inside in front of a cozy fire as the icy winds blow outside. I contrast warm browns against cool blues in this piece, “Winter Pond” with coldwax and oils using a palette knife on 18″x24″ gallery wrapped canvas. This painting is a part of a winter landscape series I’m creating for an upcoming show in Loudoun County, Virginia.