The paint is applied with a brush or spatula or poured or dripped onto a sturdy support — usually a board. It is easier to work horizontally, but working vertically can create a dripping effect. When the painting has cooled, it has reached its permanent state. No further work (other than a mild buffing) needs to be done. However, glazing, scumbling, repainting, texturing, or layering may be applied directly to the final surface, immediately or many years later, to enhance the painting. Work can be erased by simply scraping off the paint.

Creating Optical Effects
Variation in transparency can be achieved using encaustic medium and layering. Layers of extended color can be laid one on top of another or separated by layers of straight medium to create unusual translucent effects. Opaque colors used straight have total hiding power and bright top tones.

Glazing can greatly extend a color. Unlike adding large amounts of oil to oil paint, there is no technical danger in adding large amounts of wax medium to a color. The encaustic can also be made more fluid by raising its temperature slightly.

To build texture , different degrees of fusing can be employed. Well-fused paint will take a higher polish than paint that is not as thoroughly fused. The painting and fusing of encaustic is done with great precision.