Featured Articles
Symbolism Art Movement
Symbolism is an art movement that came out sometime in the mate 19th Century. It initially originated in parts of France as well as Belgium in the form of poetry as well as in the other arts. In painting, the movement represented the development of a darker version of Romanticism. The development of Symbolism as an art movement was essentially a reaction of artists against Realism and Naturalism, ... [Read More]
Pop Art
After World War II, an art movement began to take shape in the United States and United Kingdom, both are influenced on popular mass culture, which would become one of the most influential styles of the 20th Century. It was aptly called "Pop Art."Pop art is a visual art movement that challenged tradition because the artist used items associated with popular culture and joins it together ... [Read More]
Understanding Encaustic Painting
Encaustic painting is an art technique that involves the use of heated beeswax mixed with colored pigments that are then applied to a surface. The common surfaced used usually are wood although canvas as well as other materials may also be utilized. This method is also called hot wax painting since it involves applying wax in its liquid or paste form into a surface before it hardens. HistoryEncaus... [Read More]
Modern Encaustic Painting
Encaustic painting has enjoyed a revival of sorts with the availability of modern techniques now being considered as standard in the craft. This kind of panting technique was once shunned with the availability of new mediums that allow artists to paint without having to deal with handling hot wax. It may have been discouraging for many artists having to deal with making a fire trying to make hot w... [Read More]
The Basics of Acrylic Painting
Acrylic painting is a fairly new painting method where artists make use of acrylic paints instead of the oil based variety. Acrylic paints first became commercially available during the 1950's. They were first produced as house paints that were water based. Soon enough, a number of artists started to explore and use acrylic paints for their art works. Hence, acrylic painting started. AdvantagesOne... [Read More]
Choosing Oil Painting Pigments
Another important part of doing oil paintings is using the right pigments. With a vast range of pigments now available today, it can be quite a challenge trying to get those that are required for a certain project. Instead of trying to get all of them as part of your own art supplies, it would be more reasonable to learn how to choose the right pigments and getting only those that would meet the m... [Read More]
Painting In Layers
One common technique that has been used in oil painting has been layering. It is a technique that is characterized by building up an artwork by placing repeated layers of oil paint into canvas. It is usually some glazes applied over thin layers of opaque oil paint. Oil paint dries slower and more evenly than tempera, giving the artist sometime to correct or even extend his work. Layering is still ... [Read More]
Impasto, Painting Technique
Impasto is one of the painting techniques that has been used even by the great painting masters. The term comes form the Italian word which means "dough" or "mixture". As a painting technique, impasto refers to a method of painting where paint is laid on a canvas very thickly. The paint applied is usually thick enough that the strokes of the brush and painting knife are visible... [Read More]
Introduction to Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international style used in art, architecture and design that became popular in the beginning of the 20th Century. The style is characterized by its flowing and curvilinear designs that incorporate floral and other plant-inspired accents. Its name was said to have been derived from the name of a shop in Paris that exhibited art pieces that followed this approach in design and sty... [Read More]
Know Your Painting Brushes
Painting may not be all dependent on creativeness and great vision. Beauty in art can also be created by the use of quality equipment. And in the art of oil painting, quality paints and brushes can help in creating the most beautiful masterpieces. Paintbrushes, for instance become a valuable painting tool since it helps put the artist's ideas and vision onto the canvas. Poor quality paintbrushes m... [Read More]