4/11 Types of Paint

Oil Paint

1. Linseed oil

2. Using Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirts or Turpentine.

3. Typically canvas or wood board, they can be primed with Gesso, or clear matt medium. It is important to prime surfaces with oil.

4. Different colors have different levels of translucency or opacity. Alizarin Crimson is typically watery and transparent, where as Cadmium Red Medium goes on thickly and opaquely.

5. China Brushes made from pig hair will hold up well with oils thick texture. Synthetic brushes also work well. 

6. Grisaille - Paint a black and white underpainting and glazing layers of color using a combination of galkyd and oil paint.

- Fat over Lean - refers to the principle in oil painting of applying paint with a higher oil to pigment ratio ('fat') over paint with a lower oil to pigment ratio ('lean') to ensure a stable paint film, since it is believed that the paint with the higher oil content remains more flexible.

- Alla Prima - wet paint on wet paint is great for blending and realistic work.

Acrylic

1. Acrylic is bound with acrylic polymer. Which is man made.

2. Acrylics are most often thinned out using water, but other extenders are available.

3. Acrylics can work on almost any surface, and don't need to be primed but often it is preferred.

4. Acrylics can be translucent or opaque, it usually depends on how much water you add. Once dry, acrylic is usually very opaque. 

5. Synthetic or natural bristles can both work. It depends on what the artist prefers. Synthetic brushes are usually soft and smooth.

6. They can be watered down, which create a washy watercolor appearance. Pure color can be used for more graphic looks and bold blotches of color. Mixing them with water and painting on canvas also produces glazed effects. 

Watercolor

1. Binder is a natural gum arabic or synthetic glycol.

2. Watercolors can be thinned out with water, hence the name.

3. Mostly watercolor is done on heavy paper, but other mediums can be used as well.

4. Water color are usually very translucent.
5. Sable brushes are recommended. Natural bristles are more expensive but often better quality than synthetic.

6. Water colored pencils can be used, which give a darker effect, more opaque than traditional watercolors. They can also be used on chinese scrolls. Water color can be used to create thin washes by adding lots of water.