How to Treat Canvas With Bees Wax

Create antique-looking art using pure beeswax.

When you decorate your home using antiques and older-looking wall art, the costs tend to shoot higher because of historical value and appreciation. One alternative is to make your own antiqued-looking artwork by treating any piece of canvas-based artwork with beeswax. The beeswax weathers the artwork and creates the golden and yellow tones over your canvas.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• Beeswax
• Coffee can
• Plastic drop cloth

Instructions

1. Fill a saucepan halfway full with water, and place an empty coffee can into the water.

2. Place 2 lbs. of beeswax into the coffee can, then heat the saucepan over medium-high heat until the beeswax melts completely.

3. Cover a table top with a plastic drop cloth.

4. Place a canvas flat onto the plastic-covered table top, and pour the melted wax onto the middle of the canvas until it spills over the sides evenly.

5. Tilt the canvas back and forth to even out the beeswax for five minutes, then allow the beeswax to cool for 30 minutes before displaying.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep melted beeswax out of the reach of children. Melted beeswax can cause serious skin burns.

References

• Candle Tech: Wax Melting Instructions