First time with Encaustics

I've always been fascinated with Encaustic painting, but was concerned about the safety of working with hot wax. All the info I found said to have good ventilation, so this week I set up shop outside.

I had read Patricia Baldwin Seggebrush's book Encaustic Painting Techniques: The Whole Ball of Wax, and watched a video of hers, and felt I was ready to give Encaustic painting a try.
I'm so glad I did! I melted the wax on an electric skillet. I loved the way the wax moved with the heat tool. Here's a youtube I found that shows a similar process to what I did intuitively, Moving Encaustics.
Wax is wonderful, I embedded paper and sea glass, I inscribed it, and made it flat and glossy.
Here's what I've done so far, and I can't wait to play some more!

My very first encaustic