Homework 2: Oil Paint. -Alise Roybal

Alise Roybal
8/30/13

Oil Paint Techniques:

•  Encaustic with oil: The two combine together well and create a wide range of effects. When wax is added to oil paints it can allow for greater body and textural effects but can also make it less flexible. If oil is added to encaustic it can allow for a smoother or fluid consistency and finish.
•  Impasto: Thick application of paint which adds a great use of texture to the image. 
• Sfumato: Latin 'to evaporate like smoke" , in painting it means that there are no harsh outlines present and areas are blended into one another through minuscule brushstrokes. This results in a hazy, though realistic, depiction of light and color

Oil Paint Grounds:

• Gesso: A mixture consisting of a binder mixed with chalk, gypsum, pigment. Used in artwork preparation. Acrylic gesso (modern gesso) consists of calcium carbonate with an acrylic polymer medium and a pigment.
•  Tonal Grounds or Neutral Grounds: flat and opaque. Color is mixed with white paint to create opacity and applied to a primed surface. Sometimes this color is mixed into the gesso and then applied.
• Imprimatura: Made by mixing an earth color such as a burnt sienna with turpentine into runny consistency and applied to the primed surface. 

 Oil Paint Supports:

•  Masonite: is a type of hardboard mad of steam-cooked and pressure molded wood fibers. But should be prepped accordingly such as applying multiple coats of gesso and sanding it down as necessary.
• Canvas: The most popular support to paint on, a heavy duty woven fabric. It is usually applied over a wooden "stretcher" frame.
• Wood Panel: Until the rise of canvas, this was the primary support and one of the earliest known supports for painting. Various mixtures such as a glue coated the surface and was allowed to air try then gesso was applied.

Oil Paint Tools:

•  Palette Knife:A flat metal blade which can be used to remove paint, mix paint,  and apply paint (which creates texture).
• Paint thinner: Used to thin oil paints, and allow for consistency changes with the amount applied. Used to also clean brushes and surfaces, such as a mistake on the canvas.  
• Unconventional Tools: Such as rags and sponges can be used to create interesting textures and effects. Can also be used to clean or remove paint from a surface.