Artists Technical Terms And What They Actually Mean!

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.

The advantages with this being that this medium is both strong and yet also light. This is so useful as it can be used to create so many things.

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 acts as a sealer to your canvas or surface. The gesso being white and in turn has a surface to paint on that will be reflective and you should not suffer problems with the canvas 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.

What is pigment? This is what is used to dye or colour the paint itself. This, as a paint medium, is made from minute particles as they have been ground very finely. In time gone by the consistency came from animals, plants and minerals. Nowadays a lot are made from synthetics.

Embossed – A surface that has been stamped or marked so that you have a pattern, or it could also be carved. This, sometimes, is done on metal with a hammer.

Fixatives can be brushed or sprayed on paintings and this is simply a way of keeping your work in good nick!

Positive and Negative Shapes – If you analyse shapes within a painting or drawing, the terms often used, are positive and negative. The main object or the main parts of your drawing or painting are obviously the positive shape.

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

A Grid is used for still life drawings. With a sheet of mounting board, you draw squares onto this and place it like a screen behind your objects to be drawn. This makes it possible then to decide where the shadows and shapes need to be for your painting.

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 varnish is perfect for quick drying glazes. Should you mix 10% with the paint, it will increase the luminosity, transparency and most of all, their flow. Brush strokes come easier to blend, making them more flexible and they adhere to the surface well.