Art lovers out there, have you noticed more and more artists doing encaustic painting lately?

Been getting really really really popular over the last 15 or so years. Not sure why now. Certainly the surface is beautiful and the scent of the beeswax is entrancing so that people are motivated to get out their hotplates and try it. Non toxic art material = mmmmmm.

My Mum went through an encaustic period about 5 years ago. I’d never heard of it prior to that.

I do not like it. I think it depends on the artist, and some people just love this new age and want to carry it wherever day go. I prefer simple things, that doesn’t require much tools.

@susanc Maybe the signs should have said “no eating!!” as well as no touching,lol.

I have seen it used effectively, it tends to be with a subtle pallate. The colors and texture will lend depth to the image.
Like most media, it can be done well and make an impact that is not easily achieved another way. But some of the stuff I’ve seen looks messy and it did not seem to contribute.
It seems to me some artists are using it just to stand out a bit, it is So Hard to get noticed. When the painting is otherwise mediocre, then using encaustic techniques makes it look desperate. “Look at me! I don’t really have anything special to say, but…Look at me!”