Fine candles are a trend that shows no sign of abating. Whether it’s twisted and cubed styles, marble print patterns or wax that honors the female form, our taste in light seems to be getting more adventurous and decorative.
Enter Instagram’s latest craze: the hand-painted candle. Sporting everything from floral, fruity or abstract patterns, painted candles that are too beautiful to burn are fast becoming a must-have for the home. As the countdown to Christmas approaches, lighting designers have also begun producing a variety of intricately painted Advent candles.
Desperate to get your hands on some hand painted wax? Well, hand painting candles is something you can easily do at home. Whether you’ve made your own taper candle or have some spare parts lying around the house from a lockdown-induced online spending spree, why not get creative and take your lighting game to the next level?
Otter Hatchett, who founded Peckham-based hand-painted candle brand By Otter in lockdown started painting candles after being inspired by Laura Jackson’s #makeamealofitchallenge. “I wanted to create some fun, colorful candles for a Mexican-themed dinner I was planning. So I started experimenting with citrus fruits like clementines, lemons, and limes,” she says.
Otter uses different textures in his work and has become known for fruity motifs. Here, share her techniques for creating beautiful, personalized hand-painted candles at home with minimal equipment.