Oil and Cold Wax Painting: A Textured, Sustainable Approach to Coastal Mixed Media Art

If you’ve ever stood in front of a painting and felt like you wanted to reach out and touch it (even though you absolutely shouldn’t), there’s a good chance layers of mixed media, such as oil and cold wax, collage, or texture pastes played a role in creating that rich texture and depth. I utilize all of these to convey the mystery and timelessness we all feel when witnessing raw, rugged natural beauty. You know what I mean, right? That feeling that we are just one small part of a vast and untamed universe. That feeling informs all of my work and is a constant source of inspiration.

Lingering Light by Camille Kouyoumdjian, oil and cold wax 9x12 painting on paper.

In my studio practice at Wild Horizon Fine Art, oil and cold wax painting has become one of my favorite ways to create layered mixed media artwork inspired by the Maine coastline and the rugged beauty of California’s coastal landscapes. This versatile medium brings together traditional oil paint and cold wax medium to create paintings that feel organic, tactile, and deeply connected to nature.

So what exactly is oil and cold wax?

Oil and cold wax is a painting technique that blends oil paint with a soft, buttery wax made from beeswax, resin, and a small amount of solvent. When mixed together, the paint becomes thicker and more spreadable, allowing artists to build texture in ways that aren’t possible with traditional oils alone.

Instead of focusing on smooth brushwork, cold wax painting encourages experimentation. I often apply paint with palette knives, silicone tools, and even found materials, spreading and scraping layers across the surface. This creates textured landscape art that feels alive with movement and depth.

One of the biggest advantages of oil and cold wax is how quickly layers can be built. The wax helps the paint dry faster, making it easy to add new layers, carve into the surface, or incorporate collage elements without long wait times.

Oil paints blend with a mixture of resin and beeswax to form a paste that is the consistency of icing, perfect for creating texture and layers that mimic coastal horizons.

Why Oil and Cold Wax Works So Well for Mixed Media Art

This medium truly shines in mixed media artwork. The wax acts almost like a natural adhesive, holding collage papers, natural fibers, and upcycled materials in place while blending them seamlessly into the painting.

In my studio practice, I often use hand-painted collage papers, found textures, and sustainable materials inspired by coastal environments. The cold wax softens edges, tones down bright colors, and creates a cohesive surface where everything feels integrated rather than layered on top.

This makes oil and cold wax especially well suited for sustainability-focused artwork. Using upcycled materials alongside wax and paint reflects the idea of transformation — giving new life to materials while honoring the natural world.

The Unique Look and Feel of Cold Wax Painting

Another reason I love working with cold wax is its soft, matte finish. Unlike glossy oil paintings, cold wax creates a velvety surface that captures light subtly and highlights texture beautifully.

This finish feels especially natural in coastal mixed media art inspired by Maine’s rocky shores, tidal pools, and changing skies, as well as California’s ocean cliffs, rolling fog, and shoreline landscapes.

Layers can be scraped back to reveal hints of earlier colors, creating a sense of history within each piece — much like the way nature itself is shaped over time by wind, water, and seasons.

Luscious layers and inviting textures form the backbone of mixed media artwork in my studio practice at Wild Horizon Fine Art

What Oil and Cold Wax Adds to Mixed Media Artwork

• Rich texture and visual depth

• A natural way to combine paint and collage

• A soft, organic surface finish

• Faster layering and experimentation

• Strong connection to sustainable art practices

Whether I’m creating abstract coastal landscapes or heavily layered mixed media pieces, oil and cold wax allows me to tell stories through texture, color, and material. It’s a medium that embraces imperfection, discovery, and the beauty of natural processes — values that align closely with my focus on sustainability and place-based inspiration.

If you love contemporary mixed media art that feels tactile, layered, and rooted in the natural world, oil and cold wax painting offers endless creative possibilities.