What is Painting and its origin?
Paint is a pigmented liquid that forms a solid layer. Painting is the process of applying paint to a solid surface or a canvas. An artist uses various tools such as brushes, sponges, or paint rollers for painting. It is a form of visual art where artists express their feelings, emotions, and ideas. A painting is the combination of various elements such as shapes, texture, lines, tones, and colours.
The history begins with prehistoric cave paintings found in western Europe and Indonesia approximately 40000 years ago. They use natural sources such as ochre, charcoal, and plant juices for painting. Over time, tools and techniques became more advanced, and painting transitioned from the cave walls to wood, ceramics, and canvas.
Techniques of Painting
- Underpainting: It is an initial layer of colour that is applied to a canvas. Artists used the first layer of monochrome or limited colours to create a base for painting.
- Panel painting: Artists use a wooden or metal panel to create an artwork. This technique is used for decorative purposes.
- Miniature painting: This technique is used to create tiny and intricate artworks. This painting uses various surfaces such as palm leaves, wood, and marble.
- Impasto painting: In this technique, a thick coat of paint is applied on canvas, where brushstrokes are visible. It gives a three-dimensional look to the artwork.
- Fresco painting: The word Fresco refers to “fresh”, where colour pigments are added to a damp plaster surface. As it dries, it makes a bond with the pigment to form an artwork.
- Encaustic painting: It is also known as hot wax painting. Heated beeswax mixed with the colour pigment to create an artwork. This artwork is created on wood or canvas, where the artist fuses the wax using heat.
Most Popular Styles of Painting
The painting styles have evolved through the ages, encompassing both traditional and modern styles. Various painting styles define the features and aesthetics of artwork. Some examples of painting styles are as follows:
1. Impressionism
This style of art originated in France in the late 19th century. Artists use vibrant colours, natural light and loose brushstrokes to create a sense of real-life painting. The famous impressionist artists are Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, and Gustave Caillebotte, who use various techniques to make their desired artwork.
2. Expressionism
It is the style of art that focuses on the inner experiences and emotions of the artist. Its key characteristics include intense and unnatural colours and exaggerated brushstrokes. The application of paint contains a high texture.
3. Cubism
It originated in the early 20th century, which uses geometric shapes and fragmented objects. It represents the artwork from multiple angles rather than a single view. It was developed by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. Artists use limited colour palettes and include real-life objects.
4. Pop art
It emerged in the mid-20th century and is famous for its vibrant colours and bold patterns taken from popular culture. It is characterised by a technique called halftone, which breaks down any image into dots to create comics, graphics, and advertisements.
5. Minimalism
It emerged in the 1960s that uses geometric abstraction, a limited colour palette and simple forms. Many artists used concrete, steel, and glass to create sculptures. It removes the unnecessary elements to present simplicity.
Types of Painting Medium
The word “medium” can be used to describe the type of art and material. There are plenty of painting medium are available in the market. It allows the artists to create their desired artwork. Some of the popular painting mediums are as follows:
- Acrylic paint
- Water-colour
- Gouache paint
- Pastel colours
- Spray paint
- Tempera
- Digital painting
Best Practices to Learn Various Painting Techniques
These are some tips and tricks that help you learn various painting techniques:
- You can start the journey of painting by gathering materials for your toolbox, such as canvas, pencils, paints, and an easel.
- Choose a painting medium such as oil, acrylic, or water-colours.
- Grab the book and manuals to learn more about painting techniques.
- Do art practice regularly and learn more from the artwork of popular artists.
- Attend the art exhibitions and be persistent in achieving your goals.
Conclusion
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