Promises from the mirror -1923 Painting

Looking for promises in her vanity mirror. Encaustic mixed media painting with collage materials from a 1923 Needlework magazine, pretty papers, vintage crochet ribbon and encaustic wax. Sides are finished in gold, wired and ready to hang. About Encaustic paintings Encaustic is a Greek word meaning to heat or burn in. The art of Encaustic painting dates back to ancient times. Check out the ‘Fayum’ funeral paintings or mummy masks. Encaustic is a wax-based paint made of beeswax, resin and pigment. The medium is heated to about 170 degrees Fahrenheit and kept in a molten state for painting. Encaustic medium is applied in thin layers to a rigid surface such as wood (usually cradled wood panels). Each layer is fused to those below with heat – most commonly a torch, hot iron or heat gun. Some of these paintings have 40 or more layers. These layers create a beautiful sense of depth, texture and translucency that is hard to achieve with other mediums. Encaustic paintings are archival, water resistant and will not deteriorate, yellow or darken with time. They do not need to be varnished or protected by glass and will last for many life times. Care of encaustic paintings Encaustic art is extremely archival, but as with any fine art care should be given to them. These paintings will not melt under normal household conditions unless exposed to temperatures above 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Leaving a painting in your car on a hot day, or hanging a painting above a burning fireplace is not advisable. They are also sensitive to freezing cold temperatures. Some encaustic paintings do tend to ‘bloom’ or become cloudy over time as a natural part of the curing process. If your painting appears cloudy – or is just dusty- simply gently buff the surface with a soft cloth to bring back its beautiful shine