Encaustic Wax Painting
Preparing the Colors

Alternatively the color may be prepared and stored in the form of large tablets, using only melted wax without any resin or oil. To do this, dry pigment is added to melted wax on the hot palette, and the mixture is put into tins to cool. Such tablets or sticks can be stored indefinitely and remelted as needed. When artists wish to use one, they simply rub it on the hot palette until a sufficient puddle of color is melted. At this point oil or resin must be added to the liquid wax color. After a brief mixing with the spatula, this is applied to the panel. The tablets may be made using either a single pigment plus wax or combinations of several pigments and wax. Tablets containing pigments and wax, plus oils and resins, have been made, but sometimes they handle or dry badly---possibly because the oil ages. [pp. 162-163]