There is something infinitely beautiful about a well shaped candle. People will pay top dollar for this works of art and I have often found that many people will avoid using them since they are so exquisite.
If you do use the sculpted candle, you are left with a melted mess, trying to figure out exactly what to do with it now. Sure you can melt it down to make more candles but why don’t you melt it down to create another sculpture.
I am not a big fan of abstract art but I have come to really enjoy these wax sculptures. They are easy to make and you can make them with older children, under supervision. Actually, the first time I made an abstract wax sculpture, I was only 13.
They are very easy to make and you only need a few items to create a beautiful work of art. You don’t even need candles!
Wax Sculptures
What you need:
- Wax – This is the most important item for making a wax sculpture but I have used everything from store bought wax to old crayons. Remember that some colors will mix together creating a muddy color but others won’t.
- Double Boiler – Since you are melting wax, it is best to use a double boiler or a metal bowl in a few inches of water. Adding a pot of wax to a direct source of heat can cause fires or at the very least, may burn the wax and ruin the pot.
- Colored Dye – This is optional and sometimes you can just play around with the colors that you have in the crayons or old candles.
- Metal Pie Plates – The disposable pie plates work best for this type of project
- Kitchen Sink – The deeper the better.
Directions:
- Before you begin melting the wax, it is important to prepare it. Remove any wrappers from crayons, and cut out any wicks from the old candles.
- Once everything is prepared, fill up the kitchen sink with cold water. The colder the better. Fill it as deep as you can but make sure it won’t spill over the sides when you submerse your arms.
- Melt the wax at medium low on the stove in a double boiler. If you want to make sure the colors do not blend, use a few double boilers, each with a different color.
- When the wax is melted, carefully pour between 2 or 3 inches of hot wax into a pie plate as it rests on the surface of the water. Play with different levels of melted wax.
- Quickly spin the pie plate slightly and then submerge the plate. The candle wax will billow up into long streaks and you will create a wax sculpture. Make sure to wear rubber gloves, the longer the better, since the wax is still hot as it is forming.
- Pull out of the water and carefully pour out the excess water.
- Remove from the pie plate and if you do not like it, simply remove and place back into the pot to melt.
Playing with the depth of the wax and how you submerge the pie plate will give you a large range of sculptures you make, from jagged ice sculptures to billowing trees to delicate fairy mushrooms. Most of the sculptures will have a flat space where a glass votive or tealight can be attached to be used as an intricate sculpture.
- Make them long lasting by spraying them with a sealer.
And that is it. These little sculptures will have guests talking and you will have lots of fun trying to outdo yourself every time.
-MJ Plaster
