Wax & Leaf relief workshop
Make wax impressions with fresh leaves.
WAX & LEAF RELIEF WORKSHOP: “Cavo-Relievo” IMPRESSIONS IN BEESWAX
Discover the elegant Cavo-Relievo technique—Italian for “hollow relief”—in this nature-inspired workshop. We’ll press fresh leaves or bird feathers into warm wax, creating beautiful, organic impressions that become the centerpiece of your beeswax painting.
- Leaves will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own fresh leaves.
- For best results, choose hardy leaves with strong veins that can lay flat—such as maple, cedar, oak, coleus, ginkgo, or fern. Avoid dry, brittle, or succulent leaves, which won’t produce clean impressions.
- Please keep leaf sizes under 4 inches, and store them cool, moist, and flat until the workshop.
- Will create two paintings on 4" panels.
Wax Leaf Relief Process
We use fresh leaves.
Paint base color the desired leaf color
Paint base color the desired leaf color
For best results, choose hardy leaves with strong veins that can lay flat.
Paint base color the desired leaf color
Paint base color the desired leaf color
Paint base color the desired leaf color
We paint hot encaustic paint on a wood panel.
Place leaves on top of warm wax paint.
Paint base color the desired leaf color
Place leaves on top of warm wax paint.
We press each leaf vein-side down into warm wax to capture its intricate texture on the surface. Using brayers, spoons, and wooden tools, we gently burnish the leaf to create a lasting impression in the wax.
Cover leaves with encaustic paint.
Add oil pastels to capture leaf's intricate texture
Place leaves on top of warm wax paint.
Paint a thin layer of encaustic paint To remove the leaf the wax must be heated. When the wax is liquid you remove the leaf. around the edges of the leaf. Paint from the inside out to make sure not to get paint underneath the leaf.
Heat and remove the leaf
Add oil pastels to capture leaf's intricate texture
Add oil pastels to capture leaf's intricate texture
To reveal the impression, we gently reheat the wax until it becomes liquid, then carefully remove the leaf.
Add oil pastels to capture leaf's intricate texture
Add oil pastels to capture leaf's intricate texture
Add oil pastels to capture leaf's intricate texture
To highlight the fine details and veins, we rub oil pastels into the wax impressions, then gently remove the excess with olive oil—revealing the beautiful textures left by the natural materials.