Working with a Caran d’Ache Neocolor II crayon on raw wood before adding wax is pure joy! I discovered these about 15 years ago from a workshop student and immediately treated myself to the 84-color box (not the biggest, but plenty of potential inside). Made with water-soluble wax, these crayons are endlessly versatile. They layer beautifully before or after encaustic, add rich pigment to any surface, and bring just the right amount of play into the process. Here, I’m using one to fill in a port