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 and peat 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. Once the completed paintings are fully set up they are robust and waterproof, and just need the occasional dusting with a soft cloth.