Greetings Art Appreciators!
Last time I posted (and yes, it really was a long time ago) I discussed the difference between prints and original works of art. Today I want to talk about the different materials (or media) an artist uses to create original works of art.
Do you remember when you were in elementary school, in the fall when school started, getting a brand-new box full of colorful crayons? For me, that was such an exciting time! For most, that was probably their first experience owning their own art media. Media is just an art-lingo term for what is used to create art.
Media can either be dry or wet (I’m just going to stick with 2D art). Dry, as it implies, does not require a liquid to use it. Examples are crayons, pencils, pastels, charcoal etc. Wet media, on the other hand, does require a liquid to use it. Examples are watercolors, acrylics, oils, gouache, etc.
Dry Media
Wet Media
The media used will determine what type of surface the artist uses to create their image on. In order to use wet media, the artist will need a sturdier surface. Very heavy paper, prepared boards and canvas are some of the most common surfaces to use wet media on. Dry media can be on less substantial papers but can also be used on tougher surfaces.
Throughout history, artist media have evolved just like anything else. Up until the Renaissance, tempera paint, the kind used in frescos, was the predominant wet media. In the 15th century, oil paint began to be used in Northern Europe and it revolutionized the painting craft of artists throughout Europe becoming the most common medium by the end of the 15th century. Acrylic paint wasn’t invented until the 1930s and didn’t become a popular medium for artists until the ’60s.
The Arnolfini Portrait, Jan Van Eyck, 1434, Oils
Jan Van Eyck used oil paint to create this painting. Oils allowed for careful gradation of values and very fine details not as easily achieved with tempera.
Creation of Adam, Michelangelo, 1512, Fresco
Though oil paints were becoming very popular in Southern Europe at the time Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, he opted to use the traditional tempera on wet plaster, or fresco, technique.
Milkwood Arcade, Helen Frankenthaler, 1963, Acrylic
Helen Frankenthaler used acrylic paints to create her “color field” paintings, a style of painting that emerged in the US in the 1950s.
The most recent evolution of art media is digital media. This is an interesting one since it’s in a category all by itself. Artists use a computer program to create the art. They still use brushes and media, but these are all digital. The artist draws on the surface of a tablet with a stylus and can choose the type and size of brush or drawing instrument that will be replicated on the screen. They can change colors, create layers and achieve a huge range of effects. The image itself only exists digitally until it is printed out.
Photo credited to LauraJadePrado.com
So, there are lots of different materials that artists can use to create their art. Each type of media requires hundreds and hundreds of hours of practice for the artist to master (some say 10,000!). Some artists stick with just one medium and many others branch out and use a variety. Next time you are out looking at art, pay attention to the medium the artist has used. Can you tell what type they’ve used? Is there a medium you are drawn to? Why do you think that is? If you are intrigued by a work and the medium is not stated, be sure to ask!
I use a variety of media in my artwork. Recently, I have made available on my website some of my original oil paintings as well as prints of them. Check them out here. If you have any questions about art media, or anything else art related, please leave a comment below.
As an aside, the most recent iteration of art collecting is of digital files called NFTs. To be honest, I don’t understand what they are exactly, but here is an entertaining article I found that talks about them. https://www.theverge.com/22310188/nft-explainer-what-is-blockchain-crypto-art-faq After reading it I can use the quote my dad often says, “I see,” said the blind man, “It’s as clear as mud”. If anyone understands them in a way that can be explained to me so I can understand them, please share!
Until next time,
Krista