The word encaustic originates from the Greek word enkaiein which means “to burn in.”

Encaustic artists command heat to mend and blend wax for their work, carrying on a tradition of art that dates back to the 1st century when ancient Egyptians used wax to do portraits.

Ancient Greece later used wax and resin to waterproof as well as decorate their ships.

The modern revival of this art form resurfaced in the early 20th century, and is now quite popular among pockets around the world.

For those who are not familiar with encaustic art, the medium uses special waxes applied on a substrate. The wax is made out of beeswax and damar resin. The latter is what helps harden the wax and creates a finish.

Jan Kreut, membership director at CanwaxWest and an encaustic artist herself, explains that they use various different heating tools to work with the wax.

“An Iron stylus, with a hot air gun or a blowtorch…we often use pancake griddles but they do have special plates for putting the wax on. And then we use natural bristle paint brushes to paint. A lot of these paintings you’re going to see are done with the wax on a hot plate,” said Kreut.

The latest show at the Art Gallery Osoyoos, ‘Waxing Poetic’ running from May 27 to June 19, exhibits the work of a number of talented encaustic artists from the CanwaxWest group. Waxing Poetic has been an annual show since 2013, exhibiting the work of their members.

CanwaxWest is an encaustic organization founded in Penticton, “anchoring a serious modern movement in this ancient medium. The Okanagan, famous for many remarkable attributes, is now recognized in North America and through social media, widely around the world as a centre of encaustic activity,” states Carol Munro in her opening statement at the annual Waxing Poetic exhibit in 2016.

The group focuses on providing educational opportunities to teach people encaustic art techniques and support the community of these artists in Western Canada.

The variety of art at the new gallery exhibit shows the vibrance of this art form through paintings, sculptures and multi-media work.

With imperfections and rough strokes of fusing each layer of wax, the paintings have a rugged, earthy kind of beauty that gives them a unique charm.

Kreut says the artform is a very natural way of painting, which is definitely technical but at the same time versatile.

‘Waxing Poetic’ is exhibited at the Art Gallery Osoyoos from May 27 to June 19. The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.