What is Cold Wax Medium? CWM is made from natural pure white beeswax, mixed with a small amount of odourless mineral spirit - which aids flexibility, and alkyd resin - which speeds drying.
Oil paint is mixed with CWM and using squeegees, palette knives and brayers I build up many layers of colour. These layers are allowed to 'set up' over time before I start to excavate, dig, scrape, sand, or dissolve back into the surface of paint to reveal many beautiful textures. Then more paint is layered up until the beginning of a composition evolves, and this process of construction and deconstruction carries on, sometimes over months, until I am happy with the finished painting. Additives, such as marble dust, graphite powder, wood ash, sand etc. can be added to enhance textures and speed up the drying process.
The substrates I use are mostly cradled birchwood panels which are light and easy to hang. The edges are painted and then finished with a few coats of beeswax. Small paintings are left unframed and look good when hung as a group, but I usually frame my medium and large paintings. Once the completed paintings are fully set up they are robust and waterproof, and just need the occasional dusting with a soft cloth.