Mitsuro Hikime Wax, grateful to the early masters of this technique and their perseverance

This wax is a joy!

First combining the beeswax and pine resin together over  a slow heat, the smell is gorgeous and radiates around the studio.

Experimenting with different recipes to find the perfect texture and elasticity which allows the pulling of the most beautiful striations.

The wax is sensitive and the slightest temperature changes and differences in handling can lead to the perfect piece or result in something which goes back in the melting pot to start the process again.

This wax allows the capture of a moment in time. A creative process  which translates the energy of the artist in that moment into a solid sculptural form which can be further cemented in time by casting the wax into metal.

When working with this wax I reflect on how this ancient technique is far removed from some more modern techniques. It is made from natural materials which are created by bees and trees and then cast into raw elements, the noble metals of silver and gold.

The process of learning this technique teaches patience and persistence, hours of experimentation and manipulation of the wax leads to a mastery which can bring a sense of fulfilment and contentment.

I wonder how this process was discovered and how the process developed and I am grateful to those early masters for their persistence.