Painting: Techniques, Mediums and History

• Painting involves applying pigments to a surface to create an image, design, or decoration
• It is a fundamental form of visual art, and one of the oldest
• Paintings can be representational (realistic), abstract, or non-objective (non-representational)

Mediums

• Oil paint uses pigments bound in drying oil
• Acrylic paint uses pigments in a synthetic polymer emulsion
• Watercolor uses pigments suspended in a water-based solution
• Tempera traditionally uses pigments bound in egg yolk
• Gouache is similar to watercolor, but is more opaque
• Encaustic uses pigments mixed with hot wax
• Fresco involves painting directly onto wet plaster

Art History

• Prehistoric painting includes cave paintings, often depicting animals
• Ancient Egyptian painting is known for its use of symbolism, hieroglyphs, and stylized figures
• Greek painting survives mainly through pottery, depicting scenes from mythology and daily life
• Roman painting includes frescoes and mosaics, often found in villas in Pompeii and Herculaneum
• Byzantine art is characterized by religious icons, mosaics, and stylized figures with gold backgrounds
• Early Renaissance art saw a revival of classical ideals, with developments in perspective and realism in Italy
• High Renaissance represents the peak of Renaissance art, with artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael
• Baroque art is characterized by drama, emotion, and grandeur
• Rococo art is a light, ornamental style popular in the 18th century
• Neoclassical art draws inspiration from classical Greek and Roman art and culture
• Romanticism emphasizes emotion, individualism, and the sublime
• Realism aims to depict subjects as they appear in everyday life, without idealization
• Impressionism focuses on capturing fleeting moments and the effects of light, with visible brushstrokes
• Post-Impressionism includes various individual styles reacting against Impressionism, such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne
• Modern art encompasses a wide range of styles, including Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism
• Contemporary art includes diverse and innovative practices from the late 20th and 21st centuries

Composition

• Composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements within a painting
• It is how the artist organizes the visual elements to create a unified and harmonious work of art
• Composition guides the viewer's eye, establishes a focal point, and communicates the artist's message

Key elements of composition

• Line defines shape, creates movement, and can convey emotion
• Shape is a two-dimensional area defined by lines or contrast
• Form is a three-dimensional object or the illusion of three dimensions
• Color affects mood and creates emphasis
• Value refers to the lightness or darkness of colors
• Texture is the surface quality, real or implied
• Space is the area around and within objects

Principles of composition

• Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight in an artwork; can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial
• Emphasis creates a focal point in the artwork
• Proportion relates to the size and scale of elements in an artwork
• Rhythm creates a sense of movement through repetition of elements
• Unity creates a sense of harmony and completeness, where all elements work together
• Harmony is the arrangement of elements to create a sense of cohesiveness
• Contrast is the arrangement of opposite elements
• Movement can be the arrangement of elements in an artwork to create a sense of motion

Compositional techniques

• Rule of thirds involves dividing the canvas into nine equal parts and placing key elements along these lines or at their intersections
• Leading lines direct the viewer's eye toward the focal point
• Framing involves using elements in the foreground to frame the subject
• Symmetry creates a sense of balance and formality
• Asymmetry creates a sense of dynamism and informality
• Use of positive and negative space is important for balance
• Simplification involves reducing the complexity of a scene to focus on essential elements
• Vantage point is the position from which the artist views the scene which effects the compostion of the painting
• Cropping involves selecting a specific portion of a larger scene

Color Theory

• Color theory provides a structure for understanding how colors work together
• It involves the color wheel, color harmonies, and the context of how colors are used
• The color wheel usually consists of 12 colors: primary, secondary, and tertiary

Color Wheel

• Primary colors: red, yellow, and blue form the basis
• Secondary colors: green, orange, and violet, made by mixing primary colors
• Tertiary colors: colors made by mixing a primary and a secondary color

Color Harmonies

• Complementary colors: colors opposite each other on the color wheel, enhance each other when used together
• Analogous colors: colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, create a harmonious effect
• Triadic colors: three colors equally spaced on the color wheel
• Monochromatic colors: different shades and tints of a single color

Value and Saturation

• Value: the lightness or darkness of a color
• Saturation: the intensity or purity of a color

Psychological Effects of Colors

• Colors can evoke different emotions and associations
• Red: energy, passion, excitement
• Blue: calmness, serenity, stability
• Yellow: happiness, optimism, warmth
• Green: nature, growth, harmony
• Orange: enthusiasm, creativity
• Violet: royalty, luxury, mystery

Brushwork and Texture

• Brushwork refers to the way an artist applies paint to the canvas
• It can vary from smooth and blended to textured and expressive

Types of Brushstrokes

• Smooth brushstrokes: create a seamless and polished surface
• Impasto: thick application of paint that creates texture
• Broken brushstrokes: short, visible strokes that create a sense of movement and energy
• Scumbling: applying a thin, broken layer of paint over another color

Texture

• Real texture: the actual tactile surface quality of a painting
• Implied texture: the illusion of texture created through brushwork and paint application

Perspective

• Perspective is the technique used to represent three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface

Types of Perspective

• Linear perspective: uses vanishing points and orthogonal lines to create depth
• Atmospheric perspective: creates depth by using changes in color, value, and detail
• One-point perspective: all lines converge to a single vanishing point
• Two-point perspective: uses two vanishing points
• Three-point perspective: uses three vanishing points

Importance of Perspective

• Creates a sense of realism
• Establishes spatial relationships between objects
• Guides the viewer's eye through the scene

Tonal values

• Tonal values refer to the relative lightness or darkness of areas in a painting
• Use of tonal values is essential for creating form, depth, and mood

Chiaroscuro

• Chiaroscuro is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark to create dramatic effects
• It adds volume and depth to objects
• It can be used to create mood and atmosphere

Modeling

• Modeling is the use of gradual changes in value to create the illusion of three-dimensional form
• It is achieved through careful observation of light and shadow

Glazing

• Glazing involves applying thin, transparent layers of paint over a dried underpainting
• Glazes create depth, luminosity, and rich color effects

Underpainting

• Underpainting is a preliminary layer of paint that establishes the basic values and composition of the painting
• It helps to guide the subsequent layers of paint

Scumbling

• Scumbling is a technique of applying a thin, broken layer of paint over another color
• It creates a textured effect and adds depth to the painting

Alla Prima

• Alla prima (Italian for "at first attempt") is a painting technique where the painting is completed in one session, without layering or glazing
• It requires a direct and confident approach

Grisaille

• Grisaille is a monochrome underpainting, usually in shades of gray
• It is used to establish values and composition before adding color glazes

Impasto

• Impasto involves applying paint thickly to the canvas, creating texture
• It adds a tactile quality to the painting

Sfumato

• Sfumato is a technique of blurring or softening sharp outlines
• It creates a hazy, dreamlike effect

Visual weight

• Visual Weight is the measure of force an element exerts to attract the eye
• It is determined by size, color, density, and interest

Space

• Space in a painting refers to the sense of depth or the area around and between objects
• It can be positive (occupied by objects) or negative (empty)