Essentials of Painting: Components, Types, and Techniques

Painting is the art of applying pigment or colour to a surface using tools such as brushes, sponges, fingers, or palette knives.
It is used to create images, tell stories, express emotions, and capture moments in time.

Pigment: Provides the colour to the paint.
Binder: Ensures the pigment stays together and adheres to the surface (e.g., oil, acrylic polymer, gum arabic).
Solvent/Vehicle: Facilitates paint flow (e.g., water, turpentine).

Watercolour: Transparent and light; uses water as a thinning agent.
Acrylic: Water-based and fast-drying; versatile enough to mimic oil or watercolour.
Oil Paint: Slow-drying and rich; preferred for blending and fine detail.
Tempera: Quick-drying; traditionally made with egg yolk or a synthetic binder.
Gouache: An opaque type of watercolour with a vibrant finish.

Blending: Smoothly mixing colours directly on the surface.
Dry brush: Applying paint with very little moisture to create texture.
Wash: A thin, transparent layer of colour application.
Impasto: A thick, heavily textured application of paint.
Wet on Wet: Applying fresh paint to a wet surface to allow natural blending and flow.
Wet on Dry: Applying paint to a dry surface to achieve sharp edges and controlled application.
Splattering: Flicking or spraying paint to create random, speckled effects.
Dabbing: Lightly pressing paint onto the surface with a sponge, cloth, or brush to create soft textures or highlights.