How to Paint With Paraffin

You can use paraffin wax to make a wax relief painting.

Wax relief paintings are created by painting melted wax over paper or fabric, then covering the wax with a water-based paint. The paint will cover the paper or fabric, and will not effect the wax, which will remain clear. You can make wax relief paintings using any type of wax, but using paraffin wax will give you a clear wax when finished, instead of a yellow wax that can come from using beeswax.

Things You'll Need

• 8 oz. paraffin wax
• Coffee can
• Paintbrush
• Pot
• Water
• Watercolor paper
• Watercolor paint
• Watercolor brush

Instructions

1. Place the paraffin wax into an empty coffee can.

2. Place the coffee can into a pot.

3. Fill the pot halfway with water.

4. Heat the water until the wax melts completely.

5. Dip a paintbrush into the melted wax, and paint the wax onto a sheet of watercolor paper. The wax will be clear.

6. Allow the wax on the paper to cool completely.

7. Paint over the paper with watercolor paint. The waxed areas will remain free of paint, while the open areas will be painted.

References

• Mum in the Madhouse: Wax Relief Painting