Talking about art, techniques and materials.
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 29th, 2009
Working with pastels is usually called pastel painting. It is a way for artists to paint directly with pigment without the intermediary of a brush. Blending can be done with the finger, blending tools or a brush. Pastels come as oil pastels, soft pastels and hard pastels. Health concerns about breathing in dust from the [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 29th, 2009
Art papers Watercolour Papers Watercolour paper has a “hard size” on top of the paper that allows the water to penetrate and the pigment to remain on the surface. This gives the painting its brilliance and also allows for corrections. Watercolour paper comes in different textures. ‘Hot Press’ (HP) is the smoothest, it is also [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 1st, 2009
Rabbit Skin Glue A strong glue made from animal parts, that is an ingredient in genuine gesso, is used for sealing (sizing) panels and canvas before priming and is used as sizing for papers. It stiffens canvas in preparation for gesso primer in oil painting. Also called hide glue. For preparing canvas and panels the [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 1st, 2009
Panel A rigid surface used for painting. Usually wood, may be plywood or solid wood. They are often braced to prevent warping both during the priming and painting period and over time. May also be wood with canvas or paper adhered to the front.
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 1st, 2009
Primer A surfacing material used to coat a support to get it ready for paint application. Acrylic primer varies a lot in quality and poor quality products can provide a less absorbent ground than is often preferred. Good quality acrylic primer (can contain upwards of 14 ingredients) is a very good product for both oil [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 1st, 2009
Calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate- also called chalk, marble dust, calcite and gypsum depending on its source, use, particle size (which effects both the texture (gritty or silky smooth) and the absorbency) and the purity level. (Talc is not included in this group and is too soft for use as a painting ground unless it [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 1st, 2009
A painting ground is the surface onto which you paint. It can be anything. It is usually on top of a sealant/sizing layer of the surface. To be structurally sound it should be compatible with both the underlying support and the paint that is going onto it. Just a reminder that an artist concerned with [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 1st, 2009
Gesso Pronounced with a soft g like gypsy or George. From the Italian for gypsum, a major component. This thick white liquid is primarily used as a ground for painting but can also be used to build up areas for carving on frames and is used underneath gilding. It can be coloured. Gesso for gilding [...]
Posted in Glossary of Art Terms on Sep 1st, 2009
This list of art terms will be growing! Gesso Ground Panel Papers Pastels Primer Rabbit Skin Glue Whiting