Diego Rivera is likely the most famous Mexican painter/muralist of the twentieth century. He is most well known for his subject matter and his socialist/communistic ties. However, he was also very interested in perfecting his techniques and experimented with the media that he used in painting.
Media
Rivera experimented with a technique called encaustic. This technique uses wax (normally beeswax), resin, thinner and pigment. It is heated for bonding.
Resins
The resins that Rivera originally used were lemon resin or elemi, a European material that was expensive to obtain in Mexico. It is thought that he changed to copal, which was readily available in Mexico and was less expensive.
Thinner
The thinners that Rivera experimented with were lavender essence and turpentine. Oil of spike lavender can leave a residue, which can oxidize and discolor.
Application Method
Blow torches are used to keep the paint more fluid and to help it fuse with the wax.
History of Encaustic
Encaustic was first used by the Greeks in the fifth century B.C. The word comes from the Greek word "enkaustikos" which means to heat or to burn. They used it for portraits and panels, as well as on ships, as the wax is waterproof. Greek painters brought their skills to Egypt and used this technique to paint portraits over a person's mummy (called Fayum funeral portraits).
References
Writer Bio
Lynn Farris has been conducting management studies, writing technical articles and contributing to local newspapers since 1984. Having traveled throughout the world, Farris now lives in Costa Rica, teaches English and writes a column for the "National Examiner" on Costa Rica. Farris holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in speech communications and psychology from Case Western Reserve University.
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