Elements of a painting
pigment, binder, and support
paint is made of
Pigment
pigment
Powdered color
medium/vehicle
A liquid that holds the pigment together without desolving them.
binder
A material that ensures that the paint will adhere to the surface
support
What paint is applied to. Ex. Canvas, paper, wood panel, wall, other surfaces which artist work.
Types of paintings
Encaustic, Fresco, Tempera, oil paintings, watercolors, acrylic.
Ecaustic
Pigment is mixed with molten wax (most commonly beeswax) and resin and burned in, as a heat source passes over the surface.
Advantages of Encaustic
Build up textured surface; will not harm the paper over time.
Fayum mummy portrait
Earliest encaustic paintings
Fresco
pigments are mixed with water and applied to a plaster support, usally a wall or ceiling in plaster. (Ancient technique)
Fresco secco
(dry fresco) paint applied to dry plaster, deteriorated over time.
Buon Fresco
(true fresco) paint applied to wet plaster which acts as a binder, very durable over time.
Tempera
An aqueous (water) medium like watercolor, binder uses milk, fat, or most famous emulsion is egg yolk mixed with pigment.
Advantages of Tempera
Retains its brilliance and clarity over time (archival); does not yellow like oil; dries quickly; for can be built up.
Glazes
Non-aqueous medium. Thin, translucent layers of color. Makes it transparent, dilute the paint.
Oil
Pigment combined with oil, usally linseed.
Advantages of oil
Dries very slowly; colors can be blended subtly, multiple layers can be applied without danger of cracking, and an artist can rework sections; an almost infinite range of consistencies/ glazes including impasto.
Gesso
A mixture of white pigment and glue taht sealed the wood and could be sanded and rubbed to a smooth, ivorylike finish.
Impasto
Thickly layering paint, look resembles frosting on a cake. means paste in italian
Watercolor
pigment with a medium of water and gum arabic that acts as a binder; usually, white is not added, using the transparent effect of water instead.
Advantages of watercolor
transparency; portability; spontaneity
Gouache
Watercolor with an inert white pigment added for opacity; similar to poster paints.
Advantages of Gouche
Dries quickly; light colors can be layered over dark ones... opaque.
Acrylic
synthetic/polymer paint perfected in 1950s; binder is emulsion of acrylic resins; aqueous media.
Advantages of Acrylic
Touch, flexible, and waterproof; fast-drying; effects can mimic oils, watercolor, gouche, tempera; plastic quality for mixed media.