Lena Rivera
Painting mediums have played a significant role in art history, influencing not only how we perceive art but also the creative process of artists. While paint is perhaps the most prevalent medium in art history, there are several other mediums that artists have used to express their unique intentions and circumstances. These include oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, ink, pastel, pencil, sculpture, clay, charcoal, printmaking, pottery, tempera, and fresco. This paragraph aims to explore the least common medium used for painting, shedding light on the diverse world of artistic expression.
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What You'll Learn
Tempera paint
Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium. It consists of pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder, usually a glutinous material like egg yolk, milk (in the form of casein), or plant gums. The paint mixture requires constant adjustment to balance its consistency between "greasy" and "watery" by modifying the ratio of water to yolk. As tempera dries, artists add more water to maintain consistency and balance the thickening effect of the yolk when exposed to air.
The process of creating tempera involves hand-grinding dry powdered pigments into a binding agent. Some recipes for tempera use vinegar as a preservative, while others use white wine. When used to paint icons on church walls, liquid myrrh is added to give the paint a pleasant odour. Tempera is not flexible and requires stiff boards as a base; painting on canvas will cause cracks and chips in the paint. Before use, tempera paint should cure for at least three months, up to six months, to increase durability.
Tempera was a primary method of painting until around 1500 when it was replaced by oil paint. However, tempera painting continues to be used in Greece and Russia for creating traditional Orthodox icons. Notable artists like Michelangelo used egg tempera in most of their surviving panel paintings.
Compared to other mediums, tempera offers unique advantages and considerations. Tempera paintings are long-lasting, with examples from the first century AD still surviving today. The paint is water-resistant but not waterproof. Tempera provides a fast-drying alternative to oil paints, which can remain wet for extended periods. While oil paints are associated with rich, deep colours, tempera paintings may be more susceptible to colour changes over time, as oils tend to turn yellow, reducing luminosity in light colours. Artists should also be mindful that tempera paint cannot be stored once prepared and must be used immediately.
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Pastels
Creating art with pastels is a unique process. The pastel sticks are dragged across a rough or abrasive surface, leaving colour on the grain of the painting surface. This surface is called the "tooth", which holds the pastel particles in place. Smooth surfaces are not suitable for pastels as they do not provide enough abrasion for the pastel to adhere. Pastels are easily blendable, and colours can be mixed directly on the paper or canvas, similar to other sketching mediums like charcoal and lead.
Pastel art has some unique challenges and considerations. The medium produces a lot of dust, which can cause respiratory irritation, and the pigments used may be toxic. Additionally, pastel errors cannot be easily corrected like paint errors, as covering them may result in a waxy build-up. However, when properly framed and hung, pastel particles can stay fixed for centuries.
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Ink
Indian ink, also known as Chinese ink, is a staple in any artist's collection. It is a deep black ink that thins beautifully with water to create shades of grey and dries to a rich, permanent finish. It is ideal for detailed works, gestural strokes, calligraphy, and tonal underpaintings. Indian ink is compatible with various surfaces, including paper, canvas, wood, and fabric.
When painting with ink, it is important to have the right tools. Plenty of water is needed for wetting the paper and diluting the colours, and kitchen towels are useful for wiping away excess water. Premixing colours is recommended, and it is best to start with a small amount and build up gradually. Experimenting with different paintbrushes and applications can help artists discover their preferred techniques. Watercolour paper and traditional Chinese rice paper are popular choices for ink painting.
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Gouache
Overall, gouache is a versatile medium that can be used to create a range of effects, from thin washes to opaque layers of colour. With practice and experimentation, artists can master the use of gouache and incorporate it into their unique artistic style.
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Acrylics
Acrylic mediums and additives can be used to modify the properties of the paint, such as thickness, texture, sheen, and drying time. Mediums are essentially acrylic paint without the pigment, and they can be added in any amount to achieve the desired effect. Additives, on the other hand, lack acrylic binders, so their use must be more carefully measured.
Some common acrylic mediums include:
- Gloss medium: Enhances the sheen of acrylic paint and makes it thinner and more transparent, which is useful for creating glazes.
- Matte medium: Reduces the gloss of acrylic paint and can be used as a finishing varnish.
- Glazing medium: Similar to gloss medium, glazing medium increases transparency and facilitates glazing techniques.
- Gel medium: Adds thickness to the paint, allowing it to retain brushstrokes, which is useful for impasto techniques. It also improves the adhesive properties of the paint.
- Retarding medium: Slows down the drying time of acrylic paint, allowing for more time to experiment and blend colours.
- Flow improver: Thins the paint for use in wash techniques and painting over large areas.
Acrylic paint and mediums are considered non-toxic, making them a safer alternative to oils, which often require toxic solvents. Acrylics are also more archival than other mediums, as they will not crack or yellow over time when used correctly.
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Frequently asked questions
While paint is the prevailing medium in art, there are several types of paint that are less common, including tempera, pastel, and gouache.
Tempera paint is made by using a water-soluble binding element, typically egg, to hold powdered pigment. It is most commonly associated with religious panel paintings of the Medieval and Renaissance eras.
Pastel paints are similar to chalk and are very quick to work with. Gouache paints have a consistency between watercolours and acrylics, allowing you to create opaque finishes by layering solid colours.
