Mireille Péloquin is an Edmonton, Alberta-based visual artist specialising in encaustic painting.
“I was born in Manitoba and have lived in Alberta since 1992, many of those years in southern Alberta before making Edmonton my home. I maintain a close friendship with two encaustic artists also named Mireille: Mireille Cloutier and Mireille Rochon. I was first initiated to encaustic through a workshop at the Centre d’arts visuels de l’Alberta.
The artist in me "moved in" after the youngest of my two sons had "moved on". I’ve lived a full life from a happy childhood as the tenth of a family of 13 children, youthful studies in Winnipeg, starter jobs in Montréal, living in the forests of New Brunswick, the tundra of the high Arctic and the windy coulees of Lethbridge. This new phase of my life has brought infinite joy in good measure due to shared artistic souls with fellow artists. Today, encaustic art dominates my creative being because of its ancient roots and my ability to shape and compose by using perfectly pure Alberta beeswax, with which I’ve created a range of pieces that reflect my Prairie roots, love of the outdoors, and international travels.”
What is encaustic painting?
Encaustic painting is an ancient art form using melted beeswax, a tree sap called damar resin, and pigment to make encaustic paint. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface — usually prepared wood. The term is derived from Greek, meaning “a burning in”.
Each layer of beeswax must be fused using heated tools such as a torch, heat gun, or an encaustic iron. Beeswax is compatible with many other art materials and media such as pastel, ink, oil paint, and collage items.
Wax can be applied in thin, translucent layers or built up to become sculptural in nature.
Will an encaustic painting melt?
Encaustic paintings when handled properly will never be damaged. Hanging an encaustic painting above or near a fireplace is not a good idea. They are great in bathrooms as wax is water resistant. You should never have any painting in or around extreme heat or cold for that fact. Unless the inside of your home or office rises above 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 90 degrees Celsius your painting will never melt. The damar resin contained in encaustic paint significantly increases the melting temperature of the wax, so you never need to worry.
Does my encaustic painting need special care?
No special care is required, but a new encaustic painting may become slightly hazy as the wax cures and hardens. This white film or “bloom” can easily be wiped away with a soft lint-free cloth. I like to use my boyfriends’ old t-shirts that have been washed a thousand times. Buff gently so you do not scratch the surface of the wax. The wax bloom will lessen over time to the point where buffing will rarely be needed. It is best to buff a painting when it is coolest, such as in the early morning or end of the day.
When packing or storing an encaustic painting, wrap it with tissue paper or baking parchment to keep dust from settling on the surface of the painting and to protect the wax from scratches.