2 wax studies on canvas frame

The frame (20 x 20 cm) makes it easier to apply wax evenly and more thickly...

Wax was painted over the canvas and the surface was incised.

DETAIL of the above: I would like to retain the delicate scrapings of the wax

Watercolour was lightly brushed over the surface.

Watercolour marks add another element but some of the wax scraping marks fell off as the surface was handled.  

Second study - thicker wax and incised lines were deeper.

After brushing over with Chines ink.

I will slowly increase the size of the frames and make the wax thicker so that the incised lines will be more pronounced.

wax studies with watercolour

Watercolour was applied to the wax studies that were made earlier.  Some pleasing results below.
Thanks to digital editing, I could crop the studies to my liking.

Wax studies using Mikio Tagusari's work process

I am grateful to artist Mikio Tagusari for sharing his method of using wax on paper and to my friend Asako Tomonaga for translating Mr Tagusari's notes to English.  Lots of learning and discovery for me - wax is a exciting medium!

Chinese ink is applied to a waxed surface that has been incised with lines.

Another study- a blank piece of paper is placed over it and  a hot iron is applied.
The mirror image on the right can be developed.

Bees wax  and Chinese ink on paper 'sealed' with watercolour

Bees wax and Chinese ink on paper 'sealed' with watercolour

Bees wax and Chinese ink on paper 'sealed' with acrylic

Bees wax with damar, Chinese ink on paper 'sealed' with gouache

Paraffin wax (right) produces a warm grey.

Will do more studies like this.

Detail of the above.