Encaustic portraits and compositions by Vladimir London
I tend to create small-to-medium size easel paintings in encaustic, which follow the traditions of Fayum portraits. Such artworks are done in hot beeswax on wooden panels. I prepare encaustic binders and paints according to my recipes and use DIY hot brushes and cauterium to melt and apply encaustic paints on specially prepared grounds with polychromatic underpainting. The temperature of my brushes can be controlled with one-degree precision, which gives great control over the hot beeswax painting process. The surface of paintings bears the marks of brushstrokes, which can be applied in impasto or thin and transparent glazing layers. The transparency of encaustic paints creates wonderful atmospheric effects and optical mixing of colors.
