Powerwax, one of the newest additions to the Powertex family gives you a wider range of options to colour and paint by just mixing it with pigments and Powertex.

If you are like me and the one product from the Powertex range you are not confident with playing with is Powerwax then this week’s Powertex Unleashed is for you. This is a cold wax which has been developed by Powertex to work with their products and many more.

When mixed with a little bit of pigment and transparent Powertex you can create a paste which is bright, bold, has a sheen and is easy to apply.

I have played with other cold waxes with acrylics and oils to give me more control and flexibility when applying them to a canvas and even then I am not completely confident when using them. Powerwax is different from other cold waxes in that you don’t have to wear a mask whilst using them as they don’t contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and if you have ever felt that searing on your nose hair when using cold waxes, then you know what I mean.

As you can see from this canvas of a fish, the wax gives a beautiful deep sheen and depth without adding additional weight to the finished products and when set against the white of the 3D flex you can really make the cracks pop.

When using it, mix a little Powerwax and a small amount of pigment with it with a palette knife for ease before adding a drop of transparent Powertex to make a think paste. You can also White or Ivory Powertex which will give you a more opaque finish and a slightly lighter colour.

Once mixed, using a brush, palette knife or your finger you can add it any surface – both flat or 3D and it acts like a paint to cover projects or like a paste to add texture, you can score lines through it and also spread it through a stencil. Unlike EasyStructure, it dries with a sheen so you get a different effect. I recommend you try both and see what you like.

Hints and Tips for PowerWax
(1) Mix it with a colour and binding agent before you start (Transparent Powertex will give you a true to the pigment colour finish)
(2) It doesn’t dry that quickly so you can make a batch up and work with over a couple of hours
(3) Use a paint brush to spread a thin layer on a project to give them a zingy bright sheen
(4) Use a palette knife to treat it like a paste – through stencils or direct to projects
(5) Add colour slowly and one layer at a time and watch the texture evolve
(6) If you use white or ivory Powertex you will end up with a more opaque lighter colour
(7) Don’t worry, you can reach out to your local Powertex tutor, we are always willing to help

With all Powertex products, I encourage you just to play and see what results you get, you can always add another layer if you are not sure of the results!

What will you create?

Emma W