Lena Rivera
Artists use a variety of tools to hold their paintings while working on them. Some of the most common tools include easels, which are wooden or aluminium supports that hold canvases or panels in place while painting. Easels come in various types, such as H or A-frame easels for indoor use and tripod field easels for outdoor painting. Another essential tool is the palette, which artists use to hold and mix their paint. Palettes can be made from various materials, including MDF, masonite, or perspex, and often feature a thumb hole for a secure grip. Artists may also use brushes with different bristle types and lengths to suit their painting style and medium.
What to call the thing that holds an art painting
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Artist drawing board, artist clipboard, artist palette, easel |
| Material | Wood, hardboard, plywood, MDF, masonite, perspex, metal |
| Shape | Ovoid, rectangular |
| Size | Large, small |
| Use | Holds canvas/paper/paint, supports painting surface |
| Portability | Easels are designed for indoor or outdoor use, some are lightweight and compact |
| Features | Thumb hole, grooves to hold paintboxes, adjustable sliding parts |
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What You'll Learn
Artist palette
Artists use palettes to hold and mix their paints. Palettes are often ovoid in shape and feature a thumb hole that allows a painter to hold it securely with one hand while painting with the other. The indentation in the side of the palette allows for brushes to be fanned out and not touch each other. This allows an artist to have several brushes, loaded with different colours, in use at the same time. Rectangular palettes that can slide into grooves and be held in place within a paint box are also popular.
Palettes can be made of wood, glass, porcelain, or plastic. Wooden palettes used for oil painting should be sealed before use, with some painters applying linseed oil to their palette with a towel and allowing the colour of the natural wood to be their mixing base. Palettes made of impermeable materials may be prepared or toned, with some artists mixing an oil paint colour to coat their palette, using colours ranging from white to grey to warm neutral tones.
Palettes can be cleaned by scraping the paint off with a palette knife. After years of use, the palettes take on a colourful patina. The term palette is also used to describe the range of colours an artist uses. For example, it could be said that the Impressionists used a high-key palette filled with bright colours, whereas the Tonalists preferred a more limited palette.
Prior to the invention of collapsible tubes of paint in 1854, artists would use pig bladders to hold their paint, sealing the ends with thread and puncturing the skin with an ivory tack to squeeze out the paint.
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Easels
An easel is a wooden or aluminium support that holds a painting in place as an artist works on it. Easels are infinitely adjustable, with sliding parts that can be changed for each painting. They come in various types, including:
H or A Frame Easels
These easels are designed for indoor painting and are sturdier, capable of holding larger supports. They are usually less compact and more difficult to move around.
Radial Easels
Radial easels are also for indoor painting but tend to hold smaller supports. They are more compact and easier to stack.
Tripod Field Easels
Tripod field easels are lightweight, compact, and easy to carry, making them suitable for outdoor painting. They are available in wood and metal varieties.
The type of easel an artist chooses may depend on their preferred medium and style of painting. For example, oil painters typically require a larger easel that can accommodate their longer brush handles, allowing them to stand back from the surface while working.
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Artist clipboard
An artist clipboard is a thin, wooden panel, board, or tray that artists use to hold their paper, canvas, or paint. It is a protective tool that keeps the workspace tidy and free from paint stains. Artist clipboards are available in various materials, such as plywood, MDF, masonite, or perspex, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, MDF is lightweight, affordable, and easy to shape, but it is also very porous and absorbent, which can affect the moisture of the paint. On the other hand, masonite is heavier and more challenging to shape. Perspex is another option, but it is not porous, which can create issues when layering paint.
When selecting an artist clipboard, it is essential to consider the style of painting. A larger clipboard provides ample space for paint and allows for intricate colour gradations and quick pigment mixing. However, for artists who work outdoors, a smaller, lightweight clipboard may be preferable to facilitate portability.
The artist clipboard is an essential tool for any artist, providing a stable surface for their canvas or paper and helping to organise their workspace. Whether purchased or handmade, the artist clipboard serves as a functional and protective tool, enabling artists to focus on their creative process without worrying about paint-stained workspaces.
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Artist drawing board
An artist drawing board is a thin, wooden panel or board used to place paper on while painting to protect the workspace. Artist drawing boards can be made from plywood or MDF, with the latter being preferable as it is more likely to be flat. Artists may also cover the MDF with a white primer and paint directly onto it instead of using a canvas. Artist drawing boards can be purchased at art supply stores or online, such as on Amazon. Alternatively, one can purchase plywood or MDF from a hardware store and cut it into the desired sizes.
In addition to artist drawing boards, there are also easels, which are adjustable wooden or aluminium supports that hold canvases or panels in place while painting. Easels designed for indoor painting, such as H or A-frame easels, tend to be sturdier and can hold larger canvases. Radial easels, also for indoor use, are more compact and better suited for smaller canvases. For outdoor painting, lightweight and compact tripod field easels made of wood or metal are available.
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Brushes
The quality of a paintbrush is determined by its bristles, which are often made from animal hair or synthetic fibres. Pointed bristles are sourced from animal tails, such as sable, weasel, fitch, mongoose, or badger hair. Blunt bristles, on the other hand, are usually made from sabeline (imitation sable), ox hair, or synthetic nylon fibres. Most flagged bristles, which have a natural split at the end, come from hog hairs in China, enhancing the brush's ability to hold paint.
When choosing a paintbrush, artists should consider the type of paint they will be using and the desired effect. For example, soft pastel paintings require a ground with a "tooth" or textured surface to hold the powdery pigment. In contrast, hard pastels can create finer lines due to their baked, harder composition.
Additionally, the size and shape of the paintbrush are important considerations. Large brushes can hold more paint and cover extensive areas, while smaller brushes offer more precision and are ideal for intricate details. The shape of the brush can also vary, with flat, round, filbert, fan, and angular shapes being some of the most common options, each producing distinct strokes and effects.
Lastly, proper brush care is essential to maintain the longevity and quality of paintbrushes. Artists should clean their brushes regularly, ensuring that paint does not dry on the bristles, as it can be challenging to remove and may damage the brush. Proper storage is also crucial, with many artists opting to store their brushes in containers or brush rolls to protect the bristles and maintain their shape.
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Frequently asked questions
The board that holds a canvas or paper for painting is called an artist drawing board or artist clipboard.
The stand that holds a canvas is called an easel.
The tool used to hold paint is called a palette.
Paint brushes can be held by the artist or by the palette, which has a thumb hole for the artist to hold it securely.
