So, as promised, lets talk art. Well, paint that is. I am going to be talking about four different kinds of paint. All are kinds I have used and I will give you my personal opinion on each. Let's get educated!
Watercolor: In the 1400's, watercolor paints and painting started to move Westward and began to become popular in Europe. Artists had their own recipes for creating their paint which they kept very secretive. As time went by, more and more people started using the paint and manufactures were making it more accessible. By 1835, it was easy to access and provided in ceramic pans in the form of a cake, similar to how we find watercolor paint today. After the industrial revolution, the colors were created brighter and more vibrant which made the look of paintings change. By 1856, watercolor paints were made to be provided for classrooms worldwide. Bringing it to the point we know it today.
-I have used watercolor a few times but it takes a certain techique to control the water and paint to create the desired image. I love the look of watercolor paintings, the delicate and soft look is very beautiful. One day, I hope to use watercolor more. Go out and buy a small kit in the children's craft section at your local store to get started before you move up to the more advanced kits you can find at an art supply store.
Source: here
Tempera: Tempera paint or otherwise known as egg tempera have been around as long ago as ancient Egypt. The paint was mixed with some sort of pigment and a water-soluble binder, one being egg. Egg tempera paintings are long lasting and we can still find paintings well preserved from centuries ago. In the 1400s, with the popularity of oil paint, tempera painting almost fell off the map. In the 1900s, egg tempera painting started to make a comeback in America with universities teaching the techinque and paint to their students. We might think of tempera paint as a poster paint found in the craft section of most stores. They no longer use egg as a binder but a binder is still used to make the paint water-soluble.
-I have only used tempera paint as a poster paint and never the egg tempera kind. I personally do not like the chalk-like look it has whether it have egg or not. But if that is the look you like, keep using it and do not let this paint die away again.
Source: here
Acrylic: In the 1940's, acrylic paint came on the scene. It is widely popular for most artists but never will be as popular as oil paint. Since acrylics have been around for such a short period, we have benefited from more vibrant colors provided in easy to use tubes. Acrylic like the other two above paints, is water-soluble and can be mixed with oil paint and used as a glaze.
-I personally love acrylic paint. It is not my favorite but it is cheap and easy to use. You can use it in large projects and small. I like that it is thick and can be layered to build texture onto a canvas or board. It is fast drying so it makes layering much easier. Acrylic is easy to find at any art supply store but quality does match the price.
Source: here
Oil: The origin of oil paint is unknown but the earliest known use of it was in the 11th century which is not making it the oldest paint I have talked about today. Oil paint is made up of three things, pigment, binder, and thinner. The pigment is what gives the paint it's color. The binder is what holds the paint together like egg was for tempera. Finally, the thinner is what thins the paint out so it is easier to apply with a brush. Unlike the other paints I have described above, oil paint dries by oxidation. This means that the paint reacts with the air which slowly allows it to harden. Most art restorers would claim that an oil painting is not fully dry for 50 years.
-Oil paint is by far my favorite paint to work with. The pigments you have are so rich, no other paint can compare. The downside to oil paint is the cost, proper space to use it, and decomposing of paint. Oil paint is a lot more expensive because of the pigments used and the binders to go with it. When you buy oil paint you can not just buy the paint and have all you need. You need a thinner and a way to clean the brush. I used odorless Mineral Spirits to keep my brushes clean. Even when you rinse your brush in that, you still need a strong soap to cut any remaining paint in the brush. Also because you are using products that give off a fume, you need a space with good ventilation, which I do not currently have. Decomposing of the paint is also a problem. You can rinse your brush in a sink, only after you have cleaned it in a contained container with the mineral spirits. (I would recommend using gloves when painting and cleaning due to the toxic chemicals used.) When you need to dispose of the mineral spirits you need to find a local toxic waste site to have them properly take can of the leftovers. It is a lot of work but once you use oil paint, it all becomes worth it. I love this paint and I hope I did not scare you away from ever using it. Let me share with you a painting of mine I used oil paint with:
Source: here
A Constant
Now try all these paints and make your own opinion based off how you like the paint. My opinions are just that, mine, so do not decide based off what I have told you.
The above painting was created using acrylic and oil paint with pumice gel to give extra texture. The painting is for sale in my Etsy shop which you can find here. This painting is worth more due to the materials used to make it. I built the stretcher myself and stretched the canvas as well. The frame built around the painting is also done by me as well. So as always friends, keep being the best artist you can be!
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