Beeswax is a common ingredient in both commercially available oil colours and oil painting mediums. In tube colours, it counteracts the separation of oil and pigment, although a consequence of this is that the oil-absorption of pigments is greatly increased. It also imparts a buttery texture, and renders the paint stiffer and more matte. As it is classed as a solid substance, the addition of beeswax replaces the pigment rather than oil in terms of volume, so can reduce the strength of a colour. In painting mediums, it is particularly useful for creating impasto effects. Beeswax should be used sparingly when oil painting, as when added in large quantities the whole painting surface can appropriate some of its less desirable qualities, such as indefinite sensitivity to temperature and a tendency to darken in colour.
Beeswax is one of the primary ingredients used in encaustic painting techniques, alongside pigment and damar resin. Although encaustic paintings are genrally regarded as a stable paint surface, it should be noted that the high beeswax content makes them very sensitive to temperature.
Beeswax is also commonly used in the production of etching grounds, with the addition of a resin such as damar, rosin or mastic necessary to create a hardened surface.
