Cold wax and Acrylics: Create luminous thin layers with this fabulous water based medium

I'll show you how I'm creating luminous layers with a water based cold wax medium that works with acrylics and also how you can create an entire piece with complex layers in one sitting. Learn about the major differences I've found between oil and cold wax and this medium.
I've become sensitive to oils and turps of all kinds, and have been on a mission for months now trying to get my acrylics to perform the way my oils do. I'm SO excited to share how well this water based cold wax medium called POWERWAX works !
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I'm Andrea, a professional abstract artist based in Northern California. I've been painting and exhibiting for 30 years now. My training was in France where I lived for 28 years, and I continue to grow and stretch myself as an artist. I've also been teaching painting for a while now, I run online live workshops where people join from all over the world, live workshops, I create self-paced online workshops. I also offer one on one mentorship and one off critique sessions. Visit andreawedell.com to learn more.
When I can turn on the video as I'm working in the studio, I do. I hope you get something from watching these videos. From my studio to yours 🥳
KEY PRODUCT LINKS USED IN THE VIDEO
Canson Mixed media paper: a rigid surface: amzn.to/44D0rG7
POWERWAX COLD WAX MEDIUM: amzn.to/3B7dPES
Grafcube, caran d’ache amzn.to/3HMffsb
#abstractart #abstracttutorial #coldwax

[@candacetroystudios]

Fairly new to using wax with oils and now that I know I can use wax with acrylic, I want try it. I too have been binge watching. Love your videos and your teaching style.

[@artistspace]

Oh thanks so much Candace ! Have fun with it

[@samjackson7270]

Great Video, thank you Andrea❣️I just ordered my Power Wax from a company called Sarafina Fiber Art Inc. in the USA. They deliver to Canada although shipping is a bit costly.

[@k8marlowe]

I just got my Powertex Powerwax delivered today! I am soooo excited to get started playing, especially after having watched your demonstration. Thank you for sharing this. I’m a new subscriber, and can see I have some binge-watching to do.

[@artistspace]

Sweet ! Let me know how it goes

[@suezamparelli314]

The reduction in drying time is so significant! I can get a little impatient with the oil-based cold wax so this looks enticing!

[@wednesdayschild3365]

This is really beautiful Andrea and I didn't think I liked pink!!!

[@artistspace]

Thanks ! Glad you like it !

[@valerielynch2042]

Looking forward to trying the power wax. Thanks for the demonstration!

[@artistspace]

You’re welcome!

[@BigMoepar]

Is is awesome. I want to try it as soon as powertex gets their cold wax back in stock

[@lissettetaladay1692]

This is awesome! I have lupus and have become super sensitive to toxic chemicals that just cause my lupus to flare up. Basically everything causes me to have some sort of reaction. Really hoping this technique will be less harsh on my disease than traditional oil mediums.

[@artistspace]

Oh my you poor thing. I’m sensitive too now and have no reaction to acrylics or this cold wax. Let me know how it goes !

[@noreennorton5811]

I’m curious if you mean the same thing or something different between translucent and luminosity. You used both terms…I think synonymously. Do you see them as the same thing?

[@candicewoodard8575]

I'm so glad I found this video. I didn't want to use oil paints, so bought some Powerwax. I had hoped to achieve translucent layers like artists do with oil/cold wax medium, but not sure this is possible with Powerwax. The Powerwax seems more useful to create textured layers, but I'll keep experimenting. Hope you do more demos using this product. Thank you

[@artistspace]

I find the power wax best for translucent layers ! Yes I’ll do more demos

[@aliciagraysonstanley2449]

Sadly the Powerwax is no longer available, but would love to hear when another product might be able to do the same (translucent)

[@mayetmahulilileilani2501]

it is available on their website. It's a Powertex product: Powertex Powerwax cold wax medium. I just ordered some.

[@samjackson7270]

I just went on their website and both sizes were no longer available 😢

[@candacetroystudios]

Oh no longer available? That’s sad.

[@ellenvd5543]

How interesting! Thanks so much for sharing Andrea, also for the information, I am going to find out if they sell powerwax here in Holland.

[@artistspace]

You’re welcome ! I Hope you find it

[@charlottehogberg9855]

Thank you Andrea! Regarding the traditional oil and cold wax I’m wondering if it is necessary to varnish the paintings? I love the matte texture and don’t want to ruin it. How do you go about that?

[@jdmosaics]

Does the end result look like a waxy muted surface or is it just like using a thick Acrylic translucent impasto medium?

[@artistspace]

It looks transparent

[@louisakearney9517]

Thanks so much for this video. I’m eager to try playing with a cold wax medium. 😢Unfortunately, Powerwax is unavailable anywhere. Can you recommend another cold wax product for acrylics? Everything I’ve found is only for oil paint.

[@artistspace]

Hi, unfortunately this is the only one out there… otherwise cold wax is only for oil paint…

[@madamebec]

I am unfamiliar with water soluble cold wax. Is it comparable to a heavy clear acrylic medium? When I think "wax", I automatically think "oil based". I use Dorland's Wax to protect my watercolors so they don't need framed under glass, but haven't used it as a medium with oil paints or alcohol inks as of yet.

[@artistspace]

It’s called powewax

[@swhitedesign]

I have an acrylic painting that is finished except I have not sealed it yet. Could I use this wax as a finish and will it give that dreamy encaustic look?

[@artistspace]

You could definitely try

[@swhitedesign]

@@artistspace thank you. I have been searching to see if anyone else has done it but no luck yet. I haven't actually bought the product yet.

[@gracejones2831]

I purchased power wax and when using it it had tiny little bubbles in it that I could not get out. I have no clue why this happened. Is this normal?

[@artistspace]

You may have used too much of it. Try using a lot less. But yeah, I noticed strange little things in it's texture, not bubbles though !!!

[@valarieisley8725]

Can you use this technique on canvas?

[@artistspace]

I'm not sure how well it would work since the best approach is with a brayer, and brayers tend to work best on rigid surfaces. I'm sure you 'd get some results though. Give it a try

[@marymoquinart934]

How do you feel this medium differs from a heavy gel medium?

[@artistspace]

It’s stickier, you can use a brayer for thin translucent layers which you can’t do with gel mediums in my experience and you can also use wax to build body but perhaps a heavy gel medium is better for that

[@jdmosaics]

Can you add an acrylic retarder to this Power Wax?

[@artistspace]

I doubt it… haven’t tried but I wouldn’t want to

[@annecollier8741]

Did anyone else see the old man?

[@clairecadoux471]

Please mute the music. On some phones/laptops it is louder than the narration. I do not understand (and I am happy to be taught) why people put music onto and above and with a spoken narration. When we read to our children at bedtime we don't put music on. When we're reading out Harry Potter, when we have dinner with friends or have them around do we not allow them to speak unless there's music on? in normal conversation you don't have music as well. It certainly is not common when it's a teaching dynamic. Adding music creates competition of sound. If we go to a concert do we want to turn to the audience and say please talk while we are playing this lovely piece of music?

[@artistspace]

Thank you for your feedback. Please understand this is a free learning resource for you

[@katkoe9292]

Dear Andrea, what is the best way to seal a mixed media canvas where I have applied wax in some places? ❤ And could I do a resin too??? 🫶

[@artistspace]

Unfortunately I don’t know anything about that