Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

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400

Since prehiStoric people first applied natural pigments to

cave walls, artists have painted to express themselves. paintings can

be important historical documents, providing clues as to how

people dressed at the time of the painting and what their customs

and interests were. training is not necessary in order to paint, but

it can help in learning basic techniques. A painting can be done

with oil paints, watercolors, or as a fresco—that is, painting on

to wet plaster. the type of paint depends on what the powdered

pigment or color is mixed with to allow it to be brushed onto the

painting. oil paints use a vegetable oil such as linseed or poppy

oil. Before oil paints were developed in the 15th century, artists

made tempera paintings, in which the pigments were mixed with an

emulsion such as egg yolk. Artists may paint on to almost any surface:

from rock and wood to fabric, paper, metal, plastics—even skin. they

may also choose any subject, such as a still life or something abstract

like random shapes.

oil pAinting

oil paint has the advantage

of drying slowly. this gives

the artist time to change

things on the painting

while the paint is still wet,

and makes it easier to

blend colors and tones,

or even scrape off the

paint where it is not

working successfully.

oil paint can be applied

thickly or thinly. it is

flexible enough to be

built up in layers to

produce a particular effect.

the paint is applied to a

canvas (a piece of fabric

stretched onto a frame)

with brushes, a painting

knife, or fingers.

Palette

The best brushes for

oil painting are made

from hog’s hair or sable.

Some brushes are made

of synthetic fibers.

A coat of primer prevents the

canvas from absorbing the

paint; then an outline is done.

Linseed oil is a

popular binder

for oil paint.

Turpentine for

thinning paint

The artist staples the canvas

to a wooden frame. This

makes the canvas taut.

Pigments for making oil paints may come from

natural sources such as berries, bark, roots,

and earth, or from petroleum and metals.

cAve pAinting

eighteen thousand years ago, people

used burned bones and wood, and

different-colored soil mixed with water

or animal fat, to paint scenes on cave

walls. South African bushmen

produced this cave painting. it shows

men hunting an eland, a type of deer.

The artist applies oil paint in layers.

When dry, the painting will be coated

with varnish to protect it against dirt.

Thumb hole allows artist

to hold palette with

one hand while

painting with

the other.

prepAring for oil pAinting

linen or cotton canvas makes a

popular surface or “support” for oil

painting. Before beginning, the

canvas must be specially prepared

(left). once it is ready, the painter

can begin to apply layers of paint.

Some artists draw outlines in

charcoal or pencil on the canvas

first; others put the paint straight

on. oil paint can be thinned down

with turpentine to produce an

effect much like a watercolor.

Painting

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