Cossington Friends and Neighbours (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Cossington Friends and Neighbours

1:22pm Friday 20th November 2009 in

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ON November 12, the group had the most fascinating afternoon watching Diane Sawyer make pictures with coloured beeswax and a travelling iron.

This is called encaustic, or burnt-in, art.

It is achieved by melting small amounts of coloured wax on a hot iron and then pressing it onto glossy photo paper.

The hot wax can then be 'moved' around the paper mixing the colours and creating designs with the side, base or tip of the iron.

This creates beautiful designs and, with practice, real pictures Encaustic art has been around for centuries, in fact many cave paintings were done in this manner.

A wide range of coloured beeswax blocks can now be purchased and with a small flat travelling iron and a good deal of space this is an intriguing art form.

Diane made abstract designs and scenes with hills, mountains, grassland, ponds and trees and foliage, all on a piece of card no bigger than 6x4 inches.

To these would be added delicate birds, flowers and even dragonflies.

The amateur artists among the group wondered what they were doing spending hours with their watercolours and pastels!

It was a fascinating afternoon, and members thanked the friendly, amazing 'beeswax artist'.