Birch plywood or unpainted shelving cut in 8”x8”, 8”x10” or larger, if you prefer, are the most economical supports for encaustic and cold wax. National chain hardware stores in the US often have a section of cut sizes for the do-it-yourselfer. To display the finished piece, add a saw tooth hanger to the back.  

Cradled panels are more expensive but will provide a finished piece that can be displayed more professionally. Finished work can be displayed as is by using acrylic paint to finish the sides or by purchasing a floater frame. Make sure that the supplier of the floater frame you choose has matching panels because they are all slightly different. See the section under Display and Finishing for specific references to framing. Encaustibord is an exceptional product that includes a thirsty surface for encaustic. These are my supports of choice for my best work.

I prefer 300lb cold press watercolor paper when I am working without a panel because it is thicker and has less chance to bend and crack. If I am gluing the watercolor paper onto a wood panel as a working surface, 140 rough watercolor paper is fine. The 300 lb. paper is much more expensive and not often available online in a single sheet. You may have more luck in store. Amazon carries Fabriano is single or smaller sized sheets if you want to work small or practice.

On cold wax, you must use a paper designed to handle oil. Oil paint will degrade paper over time. Arches now makes a paper for cold. wax. You can also use mixed media art board. Strathmore makes that product in a variety of sizes and weights.

For most of my initial collage work in the Layers process, I use a glue stick. It is easy, quick and does the job for most of the small pieces or vintage or tissue paper. Glue sticks dry out quickly, but they come in inexpensive packages of multiples. I usually use, Avery's Permanent Glue Stick. It is a step above student grade and holds well.

Since YES! Paste has a heavy body, but is still considered a paper glue, I use this product for heavier papers when creating a collage. It dries clean and works well under wax. One of its downsides is that it releases with moisture, so use it only with materials that you will be sealin

E-6000 is an all purpose glue that will bond with almost anything. I use this glue for household purposes and for construction and assembly of three-dimensional projects, such as assemblages. Be sure you close the cap well after use and work in a well ventilated space.

PVA is a creamy white, clear or yellow glue sold under a variety of commercial names such as school glue and wood glue. When designed for bookbinding or paper, this glue is archival. Apply it with a brush or flat tool such as a credit card. I use this glue mostly for collage work.

There are times that you need an even application of an adhesive for applying a photo to a board or for adding information to the back of a matted artwork. I find 3M Spray Mounts the most consistently dependable. Choose the type of spray to your project needs.

Heavy Gel medium is always in my studio. I have used different brands, but prefer Golden. I use this for encaustiCanvas construction in gluing foam board, in gluing watercolor paper to a wood panel and for gluing heavier paper materials as collage. It doesn't matter whether the product is marked gloss or matte for gluing. I have used lesser, cheaper off brands, but haven't been satisfied with the quality.

I use Elmer's Paper Paste exclusively in wrapping handmade wet paper around a foam form in the creation of EncaustiCanvas. Papermakers know this as methylcellulose where it is used extensively in the paper studio. I use to have to buy this glue from specialty paper suppliers. This is a powder to which water is added and allowed to set into a gel. It has infinite shelf life, both dry and wet.

Foam-Loc is a glue designed to adhere bead foam (or polystyrene foam) to itself and still allow a hot knife to cut through the foam. I use this in creating sculptural forms. There is no substitute for this product, so I always have some on hand.

Gorilla Glue now has come out with a variety of adhesives for anything from school glues to industrial strength binders. I use the original glue in sculpture when working with EPS foam when I need to insert wood or pvc as an internal support. Gorilla Glue must be applied on both sides of the support material and then sprayed with water to activate the bonding. It is amazingly strong.

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