Encaustic Shellac Burn & Gold Leafing

Ready to add a little fire to your creativity? In this fiery encaustic class, we’ll explore the shellac burn technique—a dramatic and mesmerizing process where heat meets shellac to create wild, organic textures. You’ll learn how to safely apply and ignite shellac over wax layers to create lacy, crackled effects that mimic everything from geological formations to cosmic explosions. I’ll walk you through materials, safety (yes, there will be fire), and the magic of timing so you can experiment with confidence. Since this class is two parts, you will also learn how to apply delicate sheets of gold (and imitation leaf) into your wax layers—whether you want subtle glints or bold, glowing accents. We’ll cover how to prepare your surface, when and how to apply leaf for best adhesion, and how to seal it without losing the magic. Expect texture, reflection, and just a bit of alchemy. *Required background knowledge of creating base layers of encaustic and applying encaustic paint Supplies Needed: (in addition to traditional encaustic supplies) -Zinsser Bullseye Shellac (clear), found in most hardware stores -dry pigment -gold leaf sheets -painter's tape -paper -foam brush (around 1")