Painting is one of the oldest forms of visual art. It has been used throughout history to convey ideas, tell stories, show culture and record events. It continues to play an important role in society and can help us better understand the world around us. Historians, philosophers and anthropologists use paintings to discover more about human civilizations and cultures.
Painting can be a challenging and rewarding pursuit. It requires a commitment to learning the fundamentals of drawing, color and value. It also requires a willingness to work through the frustrations and successes that are an integral part of the process.
The first step in the painting process is choosing a subject. It is important that the subject appeals to you and that there is a “big why” behind it – a strong idea that makes you want to paint it.
Once the subject is chosen, you will need to prepare your canvas or paper. The choice of medium will determine the surface texture, color, and durability of the final painting. There are a wide variety of materials that can be used, including oils, acrylics, watercolors and gouache. Using a medium that is best suited to the subject will ensure the paint will adhere properly and that it will dry with the right consistency.
After the ground is prepared, the paint can be applied. Oil, acrylic and water based paints are made up of pigments suspended in a binder. The pigments may be natural (mineral, vegetable or animal) or synthetic. The binder dries to a hard film and affects the chromatic quality of the pigment, so that an ultramarine blue in oil will look different than it does in water color. Most paints are coated with a protective varnish to provide saturation and to protect the painting from scratches, abrasions and moisture.
A well-made painting has a strong design that organizes and focuses the elements of the image. This is called composition and is an essential element of good painting. The best painters, whether they are painting realistically or abstractly, use composition to create powerful and compelling works of art.
Another key aspect of a well-made painting is the quality of the edges. Edges can be hard, soft or lost, with a sharp transition between the two shapes, or they can blend into each other. A hard edge is crisp and definite, while a soft or lost edge has a transition that is more fluid and natural.
Often times, a painting is damaged by improper handling or storage. Exposure to extreme temperatures, sunlight, or humidity can cause cracks in the paint and deteriorate the support. The stress of handling and storage can also damage the painting by causing it to shift or warp. The lifetime of a painting depends a great deal on its care and handling.