Painting

Support: This refers to the surface onto which a painter applies paint, such as canvas, wood, paper, or plaster.

Mediums:

• Encaustic: A medium created by mixing pigment with a hot wax binder. It was historically used in Classical Greece, Rome, and Egypt.

• Fresco: Pigment mixed with lime water and applied to a lime plaster wall.

  • Buon Fresco: Applied to wet plaster, making the painting part of the wall.

  • Fresco Secco: Applied to dry plaster, which allows more working time but may flake off over time.

• Tempera: A medium made by combining pigment with water and egg yolk. It was the primary medium for most early Italian Renaissance artists.

• Oil Paint: Pigment mixed with linseed oil. Its slow drying time allows artists to work at a slower pace and blend colors more effectively.

• Watercolor: Pigments suspended in a solution of water and gum arabic applied to dampened paper. It can range from transparent washes to almost opaque finishes.

• Gouache: A type of watercolor mixed with Chinese white chalk to create an opaque finish. It is known for its brilliance but is difficult to blend, making it ideal for flat areas of color.

• Acrylic: A fast-drying, water-based paint where pigment is suspended in a synthetic polymer emulsion. Invented in 1934, it becomes water-resistant once dry.