History of Encaustic Art

The word Encaustic comes from the Greek word Enkaustikos which means '"To burn in" a process of fusing with heat. It was practiced by greek artists as far back as the 5th century BC.

Encaustics is archival, examples of encaustic paintings are in display in museums around the world.

PAINTED GREEK SHIPS - The ancient Greeks used wax and resin to water proof and decorate their ships. Bee's wax is impervious to moisture, so is a durable excellent material for sealing and preserving.

INTERESTING FACT THE FAYUM PORTRAITS - The oldest surviving encaustic panel paintings are the Romano Egyptian Fayum mummy portraits from Egypt around 100 - 300 AD.  The Fayum portraits of ancient Egypt are realistic encaustic portraits on wooden boards that were used as mummy masks. They were painted by Greek painters who settled in Egypt and adopted the Egyptian custom of mummification.

The Fayum buriel portraits in wax on wood panels have survived immaculately for more than fifteen centuries. All be it they were entombed in an ideal environment of consistent temperature and humidity ,which was absent of light.