Comments on: Encaustic 101: Image Transfers

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:46:54 +0000

Omg, I’m going crazy with this transfer stuff.
I got shelled out a ton of money on an Hp color laserjet. 1. I can’t find the mirror/reverse option, read online it’s not available. 2. It only works with my macbook via usb cable. The biggest issue is thatI it’s impossible to remove the paper w/o rubbing away the transfers. I even used a very soft ox hair brush under water. After a very long time the paper started to come with the image. The image doesn’t transfer. Te paper becomes translucent. Next I got a copy from an Hp black and white laser jet and my transfer was fast, easy, and perfect. Is the color printer only useful for color transfers?

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:51:14 +0000

Love your site and your work. My question on image transfers: Can you transfer color laser prints or copies?

By: anna

anna — Sun, 15 May 2011 02:42:12 +0000

Hi, thank you for the tutorials. You don’t have to use acetone. You can just use plain water to rub and remove the paper. Healthier way to go.

By: Alice Anne

Alice Anne — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:36:49 +0000

Hello Haley,

Could you recommend a place to purchase handmade Japanese papers for an ink jet printer? Hiromi International is a great place, however, the lightest weight handmade paper did not disappear into the wax layers. Do you also know of any printer who specializes in printing on handmade paper? I am experimenting with fusing one layer over these paper textures. I want to transfer my digital photo images on handmade paper. What additonal encaustic techniques can you employ with water transfers?

Being a former papermaker and paper sculpture lead me toward photoencaustic with handmade Japanese papers. There appears to be 2 methods: 1.) Gluing the paper to the substrate.
2.) Using thin paper like Japanese tissue which disappears into the wax when fusing additional layers.

Thank you for any information!! So appreciated.
Alice Anne

By: Haley Nagy

Haley Nagy — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:25:36 +0000

You probably could, but I would discourage you from using plain old wax in your artwork. The difference between wax and encaustic is the addition of resin, which raises the melting point significantly for encaustics. Wax by itself (without the resin) is much more susceptible to damage – it’s too soft (scratching and nicking become an issue) and temperature sensitive. In fact, it is so soft, you might have a hard time burnishing the photocopy into the wax without damaging the surface. Still, you probably could transfer an image using just plain wax – but please be careful it’s pure beeswax and not any of those industrial waxes with chemicals in them!

By: Sofia

Sofia — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:58:05 +0000

Could you do this transfer method with just plain old wax?

By: Ruth Maude

Ruth Maude — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:52:02 +0000

Hi Hayley. Nice post. I find that just plain water works perfectly without the chemical stink. I get my encaustic medium from http://www.waxworksencaustics.com and then mix in my own oil paints for colour.

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:58:44 +0000

I like doing image transfers, although I have never done them onto wax – I use acrylic medium onto paint or gesso. I prefer the ‘feel’ of the more broken up images too. They make great ATCs although it’s time consuming.

By: Haley Nagy

Haley Nagy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:03:54 +0000

Thanks Amy! Unless you want to jump right in and make your own medium, I recommend R&F Paints (http://www.haleynagy.com/resources/). I’ve also got some great (modest, right?) tutorials for beginners on my website… if you are interested in learning more about how to GET the wax ONTO the panel. he, he. I’d start here: (http://www.haleynagy.com/2008/08/10/encaustic-101-getting-started/). Feel free to ask me questions… I’m so happy you are interested!

By: Amy Osborn

Amy Osborn — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:54:21 +0000

I love this! I’m going to try it!! Where do you get your wax? Are some waxes better than the other??

I’m loving your new stuff!!