Lena Rivera
Painting is a creative process that involves applying pigments to a surface to create images, text, or designs. The word “ground” refers to the surface on which a painting is created, which can include canvas, paper, cardboard, wood panels, metal, and more. These surfaces are also known as “supports” as they act as a foundation for the paint. In addition to the surface, other components such as mediums, palettes, and varnishes play a role in the painting process. Mediums like acrylics, oils, and watercolors are mixed with paint to dilute it, while palettes provide a surface for mixing colors, and varnishes are applied as a final layer to protect the finished artwork.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Term for the surface you paint on | Ground, support, substrate |
| Other surfaces used for painting | Canvas, panels, paper, wood, metal, cardboard, aluminium sheets |
| Purpose of the ground | Gives suitable surface texture and opaque colour |
| Painting mediums | Acrylics, oils, watercolours, tempera, ink, sand, digital |
| Medium definition | Mixture added to paint to dilute it |
| Medium examples | Acrylics, oils, water |
| Medium components | Solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, surfactants, particulate matter, fluorescers |
| Other terms | Value, varnish, weight, limited palette, medium, palette, palette knife, permanence, pigment |
| Value definition | Relationship between light and dark |
| Varnish definition | Final layer applied to protect painting |
| Weight definition | Thickness of canvas |
| Limited palette definition | Restricting the number of colours used |
| Medium definition 2 | Mixture added to paint to dilute it |
| Palette definition | Surface on which colours are mixed |
| Palette knife definition | Flexible, knife-like object used to mix colours |
| Permanence definition | Ability of paint to retain colour over time |
| Pigment definition | Natural chemicals that give paint its colour |
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Tempera painting
Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent and fast-drying painting medium. It consists of pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder, usually a glutinous material such as egg yolk. Tempera also refers to paintings done using this medium.
The process of creating tempera involves hand-grinding dry powdered pigments into a binding agent or medium, such as egg yolk, milk (casein), or plant gums. The egg yolk is diluted with water and mixed with the pigment. The ratio of yolk to water is typically 1:3, but some recipes substitute white wine for water (1 part yolk, 2 parts wine). The paint mixture must be constantly adjusted to maintain a balance between a "greasy" and "watery" consistency. As tempera dries, the artist adds more water to preserve the desired consistency.
Tempera is not flexible and requires stiff boards as a support. Smooth surfaces such as planed wood, fine set plaster, stone, paper, vellum, and modern composition boards are typically used. The painting surface is prepared with a luminous gesso base, which contributes to the depth and intensity of colour in tempera paintings. Tempera paints dry lighter, but their original tonality can be restored through waxing or varnishing.
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Ink painting
In East Asian cultures, ink wash painting is a distinct stylistic tradition with a unique set of artists. It is often associated with poetry and calligraphy and was practised by the scholar-official or literati class. Ink wash painting focuses on capturing the spirit of the subject rather than simply reproducing its appearance. For example, when painting a horse, the artist must understand its temperament, and when painting a flower, it is more important to convey its liveliness and fragrance than to perfectly match its petals and colours.
Chinese ink wash paintings are believed to be the pluralistic continuation of multiple historical traditions. They are often created in the vertical hanging scroll format or the long horizontal handscroll format, which is typically associated with professional coloured painting. The shan shui style of mountain landscapes is the most common subject matter, often evoking famous beauty spots that the artist may never have visited.
Ink can be a complex medium to work with, and beginners may benefit from using soft brushes and watercolour paper or traditional Chinese rice paper. It is important to dilute the ink to achieve the desired colour intensity, as ink can be very strong in colour. Artists should also have plenty of water on hand for wetting paper and diluting colours, as well as kitchen towel for wiping away excess water.
Overall, ink painting is a challenging but rewarding art form that has been practised and admired for centuries. With its intense colours and fluidity, ink is a versatile medium that can be used by artists with varying styles and techniques.
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Oil painting
Oil paints stay wet for a long time, allowing artists to move and mix colours on the canvas surface to create a gradual transition from one colour to another, a technique known as "blending". The term "glaze" refers to thin layers of paint that allow light to penetrate completely, creating luminosity and depth. "Scumbles" are thinly applied layers of opaque pigment that can impart a variety of pictorial effects. "Impasto" refers to thick, textured patches of paint used to define highlights and create reflective light sources.
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Watercolour paper
Cotton watercolour paper is often made entirely or partially with cotton, which gives the surface the right texture and minimises distortion when wet. Cotton papers are also more durable and archival. Cotton rag papers, made from recycled cotton textiles, use the longest fibres from the cotton plant, resulting in stronger paper. Some papermakers also add recycled linen cloth, which is even stronger than cotton due to its thin, interlocking fibres. Artist-level or archival paper is acid-free and designed to last, while student-level paper is cheaper but will become brittle over time.
Wood pulp paper, also known as wood-free paper, is made using chemically treated pulp with lignin removed. This type of paper is less durable than cotton paper but is a good, inexpensive option for amateurs and beginners. Watercolour paper made from a combination of cellulose and wood pulp will absorb water differently from cotton paper, resulting in different painting results.
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Sandpainting
The online Sand Painting Game, Version 2, allows players to experiment with different elements to create beautiful sand art. It features various tools, including different brush sizes, particle amounts, and speeds. Players can choose from a range of colours and elements like sand, water, fire, and salt to craft unique patterns and designs. The game has no points or goals to chase; it is all about the pure joy of artistic expression.
In the game, the ""random" option adds an element of surprise to the creations, while the "wall" element helps control the flow of sand. Players can also change the amounts of falling particles or set them to "0" for complete control over the screen. There is also an easy "clear screen" option to start fresh.
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Frequently asked questions
Painting a car is often referred to as automotive painting. The process involves applying primer, basecoat, and clear coat.
Face painting is commonly associated with colourful makeup or paint applied to the face, often seen at children's parties or events.
Painting walls is typically referred to as wall painting or house painting. The term "painter" is used to describe a person who paints houses or walls.
The final product of painting on a canvas or any other surface is simply called "a painting".
The person who paints a picture is typically referred to as an artist or a painter.
