Customer Reviews

Encaustic Art: How to Paint with Wax

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Well, it's my own fault. I read the other reviews here and still bought the book. I was disappointed with the content (which wasn't very helpful for a novice) the artwork in the book, as well as the SIZE of the book. If you want to learn how to do Encaustic painting - you won't learn it here. All the author tells you is that you melt some wax on an iron and spread it around. He doesn't even touch on the other forms of Encaustic painting, such as using a "crock pot" and a brush - just as one example.

If you are looking for ancient encaustic techniques or instruction on becoming a Museum caliber encaustic artist, this is not your book. But, if you want to learn wax painting for pure fun and enjoyment, you are Michael Bossom's target. The instructions will get you started, and from there it's up to your imagination. I have no artistic background, had never heard the word "encaustic", and have never had a lesson in my 65 years. But following the book and video got me on my way to recently receiving a Fine Art Show First Place. Use the book as it's written, have fun, and good luck.

I am a beginner to encaustic art and found this book both very informative and inspiring. The landscapes and the fantasy scenes are also gorgeous to look at.

There are instructions for how to do this art with lots of helpful pictures and captions. This book was easy to follow and helpful to learn basic skills. I would recommend this book to anyone who is new to this medium

After studying the art of encaustic painting, a technique started by Ancient Egyptians, Roman, and Greeks I searched for a book that would explain the process. This book has deeply dissapointed me. One is taught to produce work that is of very childish quality. End results are far from realistic. Besides, since when did the Ancient Greeks use an electric iron to burn-in their wax?

Michael Bossom has produced a reference publication for the new and experienced encaustic painter.

Although a book covereing only a few facets of encaustic paining techniques, they are clearly explained for everyone to follow. From the beginning the reader can feel the passion for encaustics that Michael has in his chosen art form. Not afraid to share the little facts that help a new person to encaustics prepare for the exploration of the encaustic journey, he walks you through the various forms of working with wax.

He combines his own exquisite encaustic paintings and then explains in easy to follow detail how to achieve the same sort of result.

His almost exclusive use of the encaustic iron and the stylus to produce the magical artwork makes this ancient artform,(some 2,500 years old)mystical and childlike, especially the fantasy elements.

The book is a 'must have' for the beginner and a 'I've got it in my art library' for the experienced encaustic painter.

If you want to learn a CRAFT to wow your friends, neighbors and the folks at the local crafts fair, this is the book for you. If, however, you're looking to create fine art through encaustic painting, save your money.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE ART OF ENCAUSTICS, IT IS ABOUT CHEESE. THE TECHNIQUES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN GLORIFIED SPRAYPAINT ART. THIS BOOK IS AWFUL, SO MUCH SO THAT I HAD TO RETURN IT IMMEDIATELY. SOMEONE TELL ME IF THERE IS A QUALITY BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT.

I own or have read most of the books on encaustic painting. This one is the least helpful, and shows only one technique. Unfortunately, I own this one, which I bought as a beginner. Even as a beginner, I knew it was very simplistic and incomplete, as there are many more techniques that yield much more interesting and artistic results. The paintings in the book lack any of the 3D qualities that encaustics are known for. All the paintings have marks made by the authors iron, using the only technique in the book. You are better off buying any other book on encaustics than this one.

This book is so beautiful, even for those not interested in encaustic painting, just wonderful to look at the pictures.

For those who want to start painting with wax, tools, materials and basic and advanced techniques are explained in details, from simple abstract to complicated landscape, Michael Bossom covers it all. A very informative and interesting book, a must for adventurous painters.

This book is an excellent teaching resource, well written and with excellent colour photographs. I refer to it constantly as a reference for my students, and also find it very useful for my own reference on many occasions