Made from the purified sap of trees in Malaysia, damar resin is used to produce a harder and more durable encaustic paint film. In combination with beeswax, it produces a paint film with a higher index of refraction allowing the encaustic colors to appear luminous. Unlike damar varnish, damar resin is a safe, people- and earth-friendly product to work with in encaustic paints as it does not include turpentine, which is not only flammable but also gives off unhealthy fumes.
