Encaustic Painting

Ive been doing Encaustic paintings and mixed media. Very lovely medium using bees wax, Damar Wax, oil pastel and bronze powers for pigments. Next I am going to learn to archival way of adhearing the waxes to board or canvas so it will last a thousand years or more. Encaustic is very smooth, yet you have to work fast. It layers on and makes your work seem 3d all most. I love it. I shave the bees wax and melt it while it is on my wood stove to about 200 Then I crush the Damar wax and slowly add it until throughly melted. Thats when you actually have an "encaustic" medium. I pour that into little 6 oz plastic cups and allow it to set so the bark from the Damar wax settles to the bottom. After it has set, I place it in the freezer a while so it will POP out of the plastic container without destroying the container. Then I take my exacto knif and scrape off the bark so i start with a clean bill of wax. I put that back in the pot that goes on the fire, melt and begin to add pigments for color.
I use  a pancake griddle for a palate. Temp at 220. Mixing just like I would oil paints and start painting. I have got to next create a rabbit hide glue gesso for my next process of artwork and my self taught encaustic process will be complete. Im soo proud of myself being able to do all these neat artistic things. Cant wait to start up my steel forge though. Been waiting all year for that. Moving has set me back a little while, however, two steps back, 4 steps forward!! HECK YA!