Terms and Definitions
Alizarin Crimson - A deep violet red that is similar to cranberry in color. It is very transparent and excelent for glazes.
Alla prima - An Italian term which means "all at once." It
is painting technique where the painting is done essentially in one
step as opposed to the technique where the painting is built up in
stages with underpainting and glazing. The old masters never used the alla prima technique in oil painting.
Burnt Sienna - A reddish brown hue.
Burnt Umber - A dull, grayish brown used mostly for sketching and underpainting.
Cadmium Red - A true red hue.
Cadmium Orange - A true orange hue.
Cadmium Yellow - A true yellow hue.
Canvas - a heavy fabric
material that is stretched over a frame and is used as the surface for
the painting. It is relatively light-weight and practical.
Cerulean Blue - A somewhat light turquoise blue.
Chiaroscuro - An Italian word which means the dramatic contrast
of light colors against dark colors. This contrast enhances the
brightness of the lighter colors and creates a strong illusion of depth.
Chromium Oxide Green - An olive green. It is a weak hue that is easily overpowered by other colors in mixing.
Cobalt Blue - A true blue hue.
Easel - An apparatus that is
designed to hold the painting in a near vertical position while the
artist works on it. The easel needs to hold the painting securely and
be sturdy. A good easel will last a lifetime.
Fan Brush- A brush with
bristles that are in the shape of a fan. It is used primarily for
blending colors on the canvas and softening edges while the paint is still wet.
Flake White - A paint
made from oxidized lead. It is by far the strongest and brightest white
pigment. Since it is made from lead, a degree of caution should be
exercised. If you get any of the paint on your skin, it should be
washed off completely first with turpentine and then with soap and
water. Children should not be allowed to touch the wet paint or put
into their mouths anything with lead paint on it. These are the only
realistic hazards. As a paint, there is no danger of breathing in the
lead. Anyone who does not want to use Flake White, should use Titanium
White. Zinc White is yet another option.
Gesso - A white paint that is used for priming the canvas before painting.
Glaze, glazing - The
application of paint that has been made transparent by adding a great
amount of painting medium. Normally glazes are painted darker on
top of lighter colors. Glazing can be used to produce deep, rich dark
colors. Glazing is one of the main techniques used by the old masters.
Impasto - An Italian word that refers to paint that has been applied in thick strokes. Impasto is not transparent. It is opposite of glazing and is used to make the color "pop out." Usually impasto is used only in highlights or to create textures.
Imprimatura - An Italian word
that refers to the underpainting which is done with paint that has been
thinned to an almost watery consistency.
Ivory Black - A good all-purpose black paint. Originally it was made from charred ivory.
Maul Stick - A stick that is used as a support for the painting hand when doing fine detail.
Medium (Painting) - A liquid or gel that can be added to paint to make it transparent, thinner, and easy to apply. Medium is used to create glazes. A good medium should be fast-drying, non-yellowing, and non-cracking.
Monochrome - Means "one color" and is the name for the initial
underpainting which is done all in one hue - usually browns or grays.
The purpose of the monochrome is to establish a minimum of three gradations of tones: lights, darks, and midtones.
Oil Paint - Paint that is made
with linseed oil. It has been used by artists for centuries. It has
several advantages over other kinds of paint. Particularly, because it
is relatively slow drying, it affords the artist plenty of time to make
corrections. Less expensive oil paints have extenders added to the
paint so there is less actual pigment. Oil paint does not actually
"dry" but undergoes complex chemical changes. In using oil paints, one
should always follow the adage of "fat over lean" which means that
heavier, thicker paint should always be on top of thinner paint and
never the reverse. However, a good painting medium
does not dimenish the fatness of the paint. Thus paint that has been thinned only with
medium can be painted on top of other layers. On the other hand, turpentine makes the paint leaner and should only be used in the underpainting.
Painting Medium - See Medium (Painting).
Palette - A surface used for
holding and mixing paints. Traditionally, artists held a palette in
their non-painting hand by putting their thumb through a hole. In a
studio setting, it is more practical to have the palette on a table near the easel.
Palette Knife - A spatula- like tool that is used for mixing paints on the palette.
Paynes Gray - A dark, almost bluish gray paint.
Prussian Blue - A deep blue
which is a strong pigment. It is transparent. Use sparingly in mixing
with other colors because it can easily overpower them. Pthalocyanine
blue is a very good, man-made equivalent.
Pthalocyanine Blue - An acceptable substitute for Prussin Blue.
Raw Sienna A tan, yellowish pigment.
Raw Umber - A grayish, brown
pigment often used in underpainting. It is a weak color which can be
easily overpowered by other paints in mixing.
Support - The surface that an artist paints on. It is usually a canvas.
Transparent - Means you can see through it. Transparent is the opposite of opaque. Glazes are the application of paint that is transparent. This is often called a transparent veil of color. Paint is made transparent by adding a lot of painting medium to it.
Turpentine - A fluid distilled from pine tree resin and used for thinning paint and cleaning brushes. Turpentine
is great for thinning paint. However, caution should be used, because
turpentine also breaks down the bonding strength of the paint and makes
it less elastic. Paint thinned with too much turpentine put on top of
paint that is less thin is the cause of flaking and cracking.
Turpentine is not really hazardous unless you are allergic to it, but
if you get any on your skin, it should be washed off with soap and
water. Left in contact with the skin, it can cause an irritating
burning sensation.
Ultramarine Blue - A deep, almost but not quite violet, blue. It is a highly transparent pigment and is excellent for glazes.
Underpainting - Painting that is done in monochrome over which additional layers of paint will be applied. The purpose of the underpainting is to establish a minimum of three gradations of tones: lights, darks, and midtones. Underpainting together with glazing form the hallmarks of the old masters' technique.
Viridian Green - A deep green that is very transparent and excellent for mixing and glazing.
Yellow Ochre - A golden yellow.