| Painters use different types of paint, these are known | | | | measures of the mediums you choose to use. It would |
| as the painting mediums and They are usually oil, alkyd | | | | be accurate to say that painters tend to have their |
| and acrylic. Of the different types of painting mediums, | | | | own favorite art mediums. Mediums are used to |
| the most expensive paint to use is oil. This type of | | | | create special effects. For example, damar and copal |
| paint is regarded as the best quality. Oil painting is | | | | add shine to oil paint and they also make the color |
| luminous and very rich. Due to the consistency and | | | | richer. Distilled turps and linseed oil are less complex. If |
| oiliness of this paint it takes a long time to dry. It is quite | | | | a painter needs to retouch dried matte he or she will |
| possible that an oil painting could take anything from | | | | opt for varnish. |
| twenty four hours to ninety six hours and more to dry | | | | Painting mediums can be combined but today you can |
| thoroughly. | | | | buy these ready mixed. It is important to use only turps |
| Another painting medium is acrylic. If you use acrylic | | | | that is distilled and not ordinary turps. The smell of turps |
| paint it can dry almost immediately. In fact there are | | | | is very strong and so contemporary artists use an |
| artists who say acrylic can dry on the brush. This is a | | | | improved product known as turpenoid. This modern |
| good indication that you have to work fast. Acrylic is | | | | product has no smell at all. |
| water based but the colors are extremely vivid. Acrylic | | | | If you are using acrylics then your painting medium |
| painting as opposed to oil painting is cheaper. | | | | would simply be water. This is because acrylics are |
| Lastly is the painting medium alkyds. These are oil | | | | water based. As acrylics dry so fast you may want |
| based and these are often used to mix into oil paints. It | | | | to keep them wet for as long as possible. To do this |
| helps make the oil paint go further. It should be noted | | | | you would use extenders and retarders. In general, a |
| that acrylic paints cannot be mixed with oil paint. | | | | tutor will teach his or her students that any medium |
| If you are learning about paints you must also know | | | | must be used in very small quantities. The reason for |
| about painting mediums. A painting medium is the agent | | | | this is to keep the layers of paint stable when on the |
| used by painters to mix paint from the tube. A medium | | | | canvas. Many beginners are shown that the more |
| can be used for many purposes such as: color | | | | turps that is used the thinner the paint becomes. An |
| enrichment, color depth, thinning paint, addition to | | | | easy medium to mix is that of a tiny amount of linseed |
| varnish, thickening paint, lengthening life of paint. | | | | oil with a tiny amount of distilled turps. It is important to |
| There are many different kinds of painting mediums | | | | use the right quantity painting medium in order to keep |
| for the painter's use. It is very important that you | | | | the right consistency of paint. |
| understand the exact uses, limitations and safety | | | | |