JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into encaustic painting

Encaustic painting is one of the most tactile mediums in art: you work with molten beeswax, fuse each layer with heat, and build up surfaces with real physical depth. The gear list is short but specific (hot palette, wax medium, cradled panels, heat gun). Here's exactly what you need to start working in wax on day one.

By Colin B. · Published June 13, 2026 · Last reviewed June 13, 2026
man painting on white canvas

Photo by Antonio Francisco on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Enkaustikos Academy Hot Cakes Set — Enkaustikos Hot Cakes give you pigmented wax in artist-grade colors, ready to melt and paint without mixing anything.
  2. R&F Handmade Paints Encaustic Palette, 12x12 — A dedicated encaustic hotbox holds working temperature so you can focus on painting, not adjusting a dial.
  3. Ampersand Encausticbord Cradled Panel, 11x14 — Cradled birch panels are the only surface wax works on: rigid enough to hold layers, thick enough not to bow.
Budget total
$150
Typical total
$280
The hotbox is the biggest single cost ($80-150). Wax medium and panels are consumable; budget $50-100 to start and replenish as you go.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Encaustic Wax & PigmentEnkaustikosEnkaustikos Academy Hot Cakes Set$$ See on Amazon →
Hot PaletteR&F Handmade PaintsR&F Handmade Paints Encaustic Palette, 12x12$$$ See on Amazon →
Cradled PanelsAmpersandAmpersand Encausticbord Cradled Panel, 11x14$$ See on Amazon →
Brushes & ToolsPrincetonPrinceton Catalyst Polytip Brush Set, 5 Piece$$ See on Amazon →
Fusing Heat ToolsWagnerWagner Spraytech HT1000 Heat Gun$$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Don't use synthetic brushes. They melt on contact with hot wax, releasing plastic fumes and leaving residue in your work. You need natural bristle brushes only (hog or ox hair) for anything that touches molten wax.

Work in a ventilated space. Not 'open a window' ventilated, but 'fan blowing air out of the room' ventilated. Hot beeswax releases low-level fumes that accumulate in a closed studio. A respirator is optional for occasional sessions but smart for regular work.

Canvas doesn't work. Wax is heavy and rigid when it cools, and canvas flexes with humidity and temperature changes, which causes cracking and delamination within months. You need a rigid substrate: cradled wood panels.

The gear

What you actually need

Encaustic Wax & Pigment

The medium itself is beeswax combined with damar resin (a tree resin that hardens the wax and adds clarity). Pre-made encaustic medium is clear; pigmented encaustic paints are the same formula with real artist pigments mixed in. You can buy pre-mixed color blocks and get painting in minutes, or start with plain medium and tint it with oil-based pigment sticks for more color control. R&F and Enkaustikos are the two brands working encaustic artists consistently reach for. Oil sticks are a third option that unlocks custom colors once you understand how they interact with the wax.

Best starter
Enkaustikos

Enkaustikos Academy Hot Cakes Set

$$

Enkaustikos's Hot Cakes are small pigmented wax rounds that melt directly on a hotbox surface. The sampler gives you a range of colors plus clear medium, which covers every beginner exercise without mixing raw materials. Cleveland-based Enkaustikos has been making encaustic materials for working artists for decades; this is as close to an out-of-the-box start as the medium allows.

What we like

  • Pre-pigmented wax rounds melt directly on the hotbox, no mixing needed
  • Sampler format covers warm, cool, and neutral colors in one purchase
  • Enkaustikos formula trusted by working encaustic artists for decades

What to know

  • Individual round colors cost more per ounce than mixing from plain medium
  • Sampler sizes are small; replenish individual colors quickly once you settle
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Enkaustikos

Enkaustikos Encaustic Medium

$

Plain encaustic medium is beeswax and damar resin, nothing added. You tint it by stirring in oil-based pigment sticks, which gives you total color control at a lower per-ounce cost than pre-mixed blocks. This is how many committed encaustic painters work once they move past the sampler stage. One pound of medium covers dozens of beginner sessions.

What we like

  • Lowest cost per ounce of any encaustic material; one pound lasts weeks
  • Mix with any oil-based pigment stick for custom color at any time

What to know

  • Requires extra step to add color; not ready to paint straight from the block
  • Oil sticks sold separately, adding to startup cost
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Sennelier

Sennelier Basic Oil Stick Set, 6 Colors

$$

Oil sticks are oil paint in solid stick form. A scrape of pigment stirred into molten plain medium gives you any color you want. Sennelier's basic 6-color set (yellow, red, blue, green, burnt sienna, white) covers the color mixing fundamentals without the commitment of a full assortment. Buy these once you've worked through a hot cakes sampler and want more custom color control.

What we like

  • High pigment load produces rich, saturated colors in molten wax
  • Wide color range lets you mix custom hues not available in pre-made blocks

What to know

  • Takes practice to incorporate evenly; streaks show if not fully mixed
  • Not a complete solution; still need encaustic medium as the base
See on Amazon →

Hot Palette

The hot palette is non-negotiable: you need a flat, heated surface that holds wax at 180-220°F while you load brushes and work. Dedicated encaustic hotboxes are calibrated for this range and are the cleaner, more reliable choice. Many beginners start with a repurposed electric skillet (the kind meant for pancakes), which costs less but requires a separate infrared thermometer to dial in temperature. Either approach works; the difference is setup friction and how closely you have to monitor things mid-painting.

Hot Palette — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Dedicated Hotbox

Purpose-built: uniform temp zones, clean brushwork from day one.

Temp range
180-220°F built-in
Surface
Flat aluminum
Thermostat
Calibrated for wax

Best for Anyone who wants to start painting immediately without calibration fuss

Tradeoff Larger upfront cost ($80-150); less available at local stores

↓ See our pick
Electric Skillet

Under $40; add an infrared thermometer to hit working temp.

Temp range
Adjustable dial, needs checking
Surface
Flat nonstick
Thermostat
Not calibrated for wax

Best for Beginners testing the hobby before committing to a hotbox

Tradeoff Requires thermometer; can develop uneven hot spots over time

↓ See our pick
Best starter
R&F Handmade Paints

R&F Handmade Paints Encaustic Palette, 12x12

$$$

R&F Handmade Paints has been making encaustic materials in New York since 1988, and their 12x12-inch heated palette is the flat aluminum surface the community keeps returning to. Set wax directly on it to melt, load brushes straight from the plate, and the calibrated thermostat holds 180-220°F through a full session. No adjusting; no checking. Just painting.

What we like

  • Calibrated thermostat keeps wax at exactly the right working temperature
  • Aluminum surface holds multiple wax colors in separate areas at once
  • No hot-spot issues common in repurposed electric skillets

What to know

  • Costs $80-150, the largest single purchase in the starter kit
  • Not portable; requires a stable, dedicated workspace surface
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Presto

Presto 06620 11-Inch Electric Skillet

$

Half the price of a dedicated hotbox, the Presto 11-inch skillet heats to the right range and is the most commonly recommended alternative in encaustic communities. The catch: you'll want a separate infrared thermometer to confirm the surface temperature before you start painting. Functional and widely available, but expect a few extra minutes of setup each session.

What we like

  • Under $40 and available at any department or kitchen store
  • Large flat surface accommodates multiple wax colors simultaneously

What to know

  • No thermostat calibrated for wax; needs separate infrared thermometer
  • Can develop uneven hot spots after extended use
See on Amazon →

Cradled Panels

Wax is rigid when cool and heavy in layers. Canvas flexes as humidity and temperature change, which cracks and delaminates wax coatings within months. You need a rigid, porous substrate. Cradled wood panels are the standard: the cradle (a wooden frame bonded to the back) keeps the board flat under the accumulated weight of multiple wax layers. Ampersand's Encausticbord has a clay coating that bonds to wax better than bare wood. Plain cradled birch plywood works too but requires sealing with a coat of medium before the first layer.

Best starter
Ampersand

Ampersand Encausticbord Cradled Panel, 11x14

$$

Ampersand's Encausticbord is the most-used panel in encaustic painting for one reason: its clay coating bonds to wax without any primer or prep. The cradled form keeps the board flat under multiple wax layers, and it comes in sizes from 4x4 to 24x24. Start with 6x6 or 8x8; small panels let you experiment without the commitment a large surface demands.

What we like

  • Clay coating bonds to wax without primer, eliminating a prep step
  • Available in sizes from 4x4 to 24x24 inches
  • Cradle back keeps panel flat under multiple heavy wax layers

What to know

  • Costs more per panel than plain birch; adds up for frequent painters
  • Smooth clay surface; use bare birch if you want visible wood grain texture
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Trekell

Trekell Raw Baltic Birch Panel, Gallery Profile

$

Bare cradled birch plywood is the DIY approach. Apply a coat of plain encaustic medium to seal the wood grain, let it cool, and then build up from there. It takes one extra prep step versus Encausticbord, but costs less per panel and is widely available. The uncoated surface creates a slightly different look from clay-coated boards, which some painters prefer.

What we like

  • Costs half the price of Encausticbord, especially in bulk packs
  • Uncoated surface creates a distinct look some painters prefer

What to know

  • Raw wood grain absorbs first layers unevenly; seal with medium first
  • Wax adhesion is slightly weaker on early layers than clay-coated boards
See on Amazon →

Brushes & Tools

You need natural bristle brushes. Synthetic fibers melt in molten wax, releasing fumes and leaving plastic residue in your work. Hog bristle (the same hair used in oil painting brushes) survives repeated dunking in 200°F wax and holds a stroke well. Beyond brushes, a few palette knives let you scrape back layers, add texture, and transfer wax across the panel. Keep these brushes dedicated to encaustic; they cannot be cleaned with water or solvents, only paper-wiped between colors.

Best starter
Princeton

Princeton Catalyst Polytip Brush Set, 5 Piece

$$

Princeton's Catalyst line uses a synthetic-natural blend designed to withstand high temperatures, making these the best-tested brushes for encaustic among craft brush lines. A set with 2-3 flat sizes covers the range from broad wax coverage to detail passages. Far more durable in hot wax than standard synthetic brushes, which melt almost immediately.

What we like

  • Heat-tolerant fiber survives encaustic working temperatures
  • Flat shapes hold a good load of molten wax and release cleanly
  • Available in a set with multiple sizes for varied stroke work

What to know

  • Cannot be cleaned with water; paper-wipe between colors only
  • Less stiff than pure hog bristle; slightly different feel on the panel
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Jack Richeson

Jack Richeson Flexible Painting Knife Set

$

A set of flexible painting knives gives you the main tools for encaustic scraping and texture work: broad blades for scraping back full layers, narrow blades for incised lines, and flexible spatula tips for transferring molten wax. Jack Richeson's knives have real steel flex and hold their edge through temperature cycling without the pitting that affects chrome-plated versions.

What we like

  • Stainless steel handles repeated temperature cycling without corrosion
  • Lets you scrape back cooled layers to reveal color underneath

What to know

  • Not needed on day one; build wax-handling skill before reaching for the knife
  • Cheap chrome-plated sets pit and peel; stainless is worth the slight premium
See on Amazon →

Fusing Heat Tools

Every encaustic layer must be fused to the one below it with heat before the next layer goes down. Unfused layers look cloudy and eventually delaminate. A heat gun is the primary fusing tool: you sweep it a few inches above the surface until the top layer just begins to gloss and flow. A tacking iron (a small flat iron from the textile world) is the secondary tool for detail fusing and for creating smooth, burnished passages. Most encaustic painters use both; the heat gun for broad fusing, the iron for precision work.

Best starter
Wagner

Wagner Spraytech HT1000 Heat Gun

$$

Wagner's heat guns are the encaustic community's default recommendation: a controlled wide cone of hot air that fuses wax layers without scorching. Set it to the lower heat setting and sweep it 4-6 inches above the surface until the top layer glosses. Quiet enough for a studio, durable enough for daily use, and available at any hardware store.

What we like

  • Wide cone of heat fuses a full brushstroke of wax in one smooth sweep
  • Variable heat settings match temperature to the wax type
  • Durable build; most Wagner guns outlast several encaustic projects

What to know

  • Requires constant sweeping motion; lingering scorches the top layer
  • Louder than a tacking iron; less comfortable in small spaces
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Clover

Clover Mini Iron II Adapter Set

$

A tacking iron from the quilting world, the Clover Mini Iron II has a flat tip with a variable thermostat. In encaustic, it fuses small areas with a precision a heat gun can't match: burnishing passages to a glassy finish, fusing edges, and working into tight corners. Most encaustic painters pick one up within the first few months.

What we like

  • Flat tip fuses small areas with precision a heat gun can't match
  • Variable thermostat controls exactly how much wax you reflow

What to know

  • Slow for large areas; pairs with a heat gun rather than replacing it
  • Takes practice to avoid dragging the iron into wax layers while fusing
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of encaustic painting

Most beginners spend their first session fighting the temperature. Once you understand that wax has three states and you control all of them, the rest falls into place surprisingly fast.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • A propane or butane torch — Torching is an advanced fusing technique that can vaporize wax and create fire risk. A heat gun does everything a beginner needs more safely.
  • Cold wax medium — Cold wax is a different product (oil paint thickener) often confused with encaustic. Don't buy it thinking it's a substitute. It's not the same medium.
  • Microcrystalline wax — A specialty finishing wax used for surface polish on finished pieces. Not needed until you have completed work you want to preserve.
  • Encaustic painting ribbons or wire tools — Specialty texture tools for advanced mark-making. A palette knife does the same job and teaches the basic skill first.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Order an Enkaustikos Hot Cakes sampler so you have pigmented wax ready when everything else arrives. · Buy
  2. Order a hotbox (or set aside an electric skillet) before your panels arrive so your heat source is ready. · Buy
  3. Order a pack of small cradled panels (6x6 or 8x8). Small panels let you experiment without feeling precious about them. · Buy
  4. Set up your workspace near a window or with a fan blowing air out of the room. Ventilation is not optional. · Action
  5. Apply your first layer of wax, then fuse it with the heat gun until it just glosses over. Let it cool. That rhythm — apply, fuse, cool — is the whole foundation of the medium. · Action
  6. Watch one beginner encaustic technique video before your first session. R&F and Enkaustikos both have free tutorials on their websites. · Learn
FAQ

Common questions

Can I use stretched canvas for encaustic painting?

No. Canvas flexes with changes in humidity and temperature, which causes wax to crack and delaminate within months. You need a rigid substrate. Cradled birch panels or Ampersand Encausticbord are the standard choices.

What temperature should the hot palette be set to?

180-220°F is the typical working range. Below 180°F the wax is too viscous to brush smoothly; above 220°F it begins to smoke and the fumes become more concentrated. If you're using an electric skillet, an infrared thermometer ($20-30) tells you exactly where you are.

Are encaustic wax fumes dangerous?

At working temperatures (under 220°F), the fumes from beeswax and damar are low-level but real. Good ventilation (a fan blowing air out of the room) makes occasional sessions safe. If you're painting daily, a respirator rated for organic vapors adds an extra layer of protection. Never superheat wax; visible smoke means the temperature is too high.

Do I really have to fuse every single layer?

Yes. Unfused layers bond weakly to each other and will eventually separate, especially if the piece is moved or the temperature changes. The rule is: apply a layer, fuse it until the surface just glosses over and then goes matte again, let it cool, then apply the next layer.

How many layers is normal in an encaustic painting?

Anywhere from 4 to 40, depending on the effect you're going for. Beginners often apply fewer thick layers; experienced painters build up many thin ones for depth and translucency. Each layer should be thin enough to fuse in under 10 seconds of heat gun time.

How much does a complete encaustic starter kit cost?

A practical starter setup (wax sampler, hotbox, small panels, heat gun, and brushes) runs $150-280 depending on whether you use a dedicated hotbox or an electric skillet. The skillet route gets you started for closer to $150; the hotbox route is $250-280 but removes a lot of the temperature-management friction.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • R&F Handmade Paints — Tutorials — Free technique library from one of the field's founding encaustic suppliers. Layer-building, fusing, surface treatments, and finishing. Start here.
  • International Encaustic Artists (IEA) — The main professional organization for encaustic painters. Member gallery, workshops, and the most active encaustic community online.
  • Enkaustikos Technique Library — Step-by-step guides from the maker of Hot Cakes. Practical, product-neutral, and organized by technique level.
  • The Art of Encaustic Painting — Joanne Mattera — The standard reference book for the medium. Covers materials, surfaces, layering, fusing, and mixed-media approaches. More useful after a few sessions than before.
  • r/Encaustic — Small but active community. Useful for troubleshooting specific problems and seeing what beginners' work actually looks like at different stages.

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