I've received a small grant to teach encaustics in a situation where beeswax or animal products can not be used. Can I use microcrystalline or even parafin as the only wax in a medium since longevity for the pieces produced will not be an issue? If this is possible, what qualities of beeswax will be lost?
Microcrystalline wax can be used as an encaustic medium. The artist, Tony Scherman, uses it almost exclusively. As for what you gain or lose, beeswax is tackier which makes it easier for collage applications and it smells better when you're working with it. It is not necessarily better. Microcrystalline can have a significantly higher melting point and is more transparent. Paraffin is considered not usable on its own because of its relative low melting point and brittle properties. I suggest researching all of the available waxes: Montan, carnauba, beeswax, microcrystalline, candelilla and see which properties best meet your needs. Most artists who get into encaustic use a blend of waxes and resin to form an optimal medium. For historical information and recipes I would suggest looking into Pratt and Fizell's Encaustic: Materials and Methods , which can be viewed online via the following link:
From what I have discovered for myself using microcrystalline blends is that the medium takes on a firm yet flexible taffy consistency once cool when oil paint had been used as the pigmentation agent rather than the hard surface you associate with beeswax/resin blends. I would recommend using powder pigments with microcrystalline waxes for that reason.
