Sunday, March 1, 2009

What Do They Mean - Artists Technical Terms!...

By Anna Meenaghan

What is Paper Mache? Basically, with this you get some newspaper and rip it up. Pummel it with water which leaves you with a soggy lump. At this stage it is ready for you to mould it into any shape that you like.

The pulp you have now acquired is at the wet stage and this is when you need to apply glue or paste to it. Once you have completed this task, you always need to let it dry naturally. Now, just as if you were using wood, you can apply a primer before you go on to paint your article.

This is beneficial, as if you use this medium, it is light, so useful for creating so many things and is very strong.

Have you heard of Sugar Cane. Yes, this is a paper which is actually derived from the sugar cane plant. This too, is good for making Paper Mache, as it is very absorbent. You can also draw on this paper, it is fibrous, thick and comes in a variety of colours.

Gesso is used on canvasses and other types of surfaces as a primer before you go on to paint. Really it is a bit like a glue. A mixture of white pigment, whiting, chalk or plaster.

This will seal your canvas and the white gesso gives a reflective surface to paint on and hopefully keeps the canvas from rolling.

Impasto - This is canvas which has thick layers of paint. Usually formed by using your brush or palette knife, loading it with paint to form layers on the canvas. Making a heavy textured surface, which will have your bristle marks impressed on the canvas when you paint.

Pigment is the actual substance used to colour the paint or dye. Very finely ground down particles make up the paint medium. Many are made synthetically. Years ago they came from plants, animals and minerals.

Embossed - Pattern marks achieved on the surface. You can do it on metal with a hammer or the surface can actually be marked or stamped with the pattern.

Fixatives are a way of trying to preserve your painting. These can be sprayed or brushed on.

Positive and Negative - Consideration needs to be given to the painting and what is contained in it, to decide upon the positive and negative sections. The positive shape has to be your main object or section.

The negative shape will be what else surrounds it. Bear in mind for your drawing to work, both parts need equal attention.

Grid - A grid is something very useful to the artist for doing still life drawing. Usually a thick sheet of white card which you then draw squares on. By placing your objects in front of this, it will be helpful to decide where to draw your shadows and objects on the paper.

Acrylic Retarder - 10% of this can be used with acrylic paints. It will increase the amount of the paints open drying time. Good for wet in wet styles, blending and shading. It will also lessen skin forming on your palette.

Acrylic Gloss Varnish - This fluid acrylic medium has the same resin as Acrylic Artist Colour. When it is mixed with the colours, it stretches them and increases their flow, transparency and luminosity. Thus making it easier for blending. It increases the flexibility of your brushstrokes and is perfect for quick drying glazes.

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