Prepping my 50 panels for encaustic takes some time:

1. Cut cabinet-grade birch plywood into 6″x6″ panels;
2. Sand lightly as needed;
3. Tape edges to prevent glue from dripping (encaustic doesn’t like glue);
4. Glue the photos;
5. weight them overnight;
6. Remove tape;
7. Trim photos to the edge of the panel;
8. Sand edges again if needed.
9. Base coat of clear encaustic wax to protect photo.

Now they’re prepped and ready to go!

1. sanding

2. ready to glue

3. glueing the photo

4. adhering photo

5. glued and stacked

6. weighted overnight

7. removing tape

8. trimming photo

9. clear wax over photo