Argent College has recently gained a new multi-urn for its candle-making workshop, giving students the opportunity to create exciting and unique candles. Argent student Ryzwan has attended several sessions dipping candles and has enjoyed using the new equipment.
The process of dipping is the real art of candle making. It takes patience, attention to timing, focus and concentration to get the technique right. The technique involves dipping the wick quickly into a tall pot of wax and then letting it cool for 30 seconds before repeating the process. It takes around 30 minutes to build up a taper candle suitable for a regular candle stick holder. We use beeswax and we are recently developing the art form by dipping with more colours and carving into the candles.
Ryzwan has had several sessions dipping candles, however if he is unsettled at the start, he sometimes finds it hard to wait for the 30 seconds in between dips and therefore the candle doesn’t build up quickly. Once he settles into the process and gets into the rhythm of the dipping, the candle builds up quickly. Although he finds it challenging at first, once he gets started, he finds it difficult to stop! Ryzwan recently experimented with carving the candle using a knife, and he followed the demonstration very well, enjoying the sensory nature of cutting and peeling back the warm wax.
Dipping benefits the students by supporting regulation because of the sensory and timed nature of the craft. Touching the wax to straighten out the candle in between dips is warming and, for most, a pleasant texture. It supports focus and attention to detail; you have to get the technique right in order to create a satisfactory candle, students get frustrated if it’s not working as they’d like which encourages reflection on their process and what needs to be improved or changed in their technique.
“It is a craft I often encourage students to engage in when I feel they are distracted and not able to focus on other candle making tasks, I have had many students reflect on the process and say it has helped them to calm down. Once the technique has been mastered, it is satisfying to watch the candle grow through your own skilled actions.”
Elizabeth Wilkinson
Candle Dipping Tutor