Painting is a method of visual expression using color, line, tone, brushwork and texture. It is traditionally applied to a flat surface and can represent a natural scene, object, or narrative, or be wholly abstract. It is one of the oldest known forms of art and has been used across cultures and regions for thousands of years. The painter’s formal interplay of lines, shapes, colors, tones, and textures communicate a mood and create forces of harmony and tension within a work of art.
Paintings can be created on a wide variety of surfaces such as paper, canvas, wood, marble, plaster, ceramics and even concrete. They are created using a combination of a medium (usually water mixed with pigment) and a support (such as canvas, board or wood). In some cases, such as frescoes, the surface is a wall itself and the mural painted directly onto it.
When starting to paint it is important to think about the overall composition and what you want to say with your piece of art. This can help to keep your painting on track and prevent it from becoming a mess of unconnected marks and sloppy areas. Many artists sketch or block out their compositions first in order to establish the overall design. They may then proceed to apply color to the canvas or panel. Some painters will work in layers while others will paint alla prima (all at once) and complete the entire painting in a single session.
Creating an interesting painting is all about the relationships of the individual parts, so it is important to consider how light hits your subject and what the shadows are like. For example, if you are painting a landscape, you will probably want to darken the highlights and brighten the shadows to get a more realistic effect. On the other hand, if you are painting something that has a lot of texture it may be better to leave the highlights as they are, in order to maintain the appearance and feel of the piece.
To add more depth to a painting, it is also helpful to consider the edges of your shapes. You can use a hard edge to show the transition between two shapes; a soft edge to convey a sense of movement or fuzziness; and a lost edge to give the impression that the shape disappears into the background.
You can also experiment with different textures by applying a thin layer of paint and then adding more over it. By varying the amount of paint you apply and the type of strokes you make, you can create effects such as fur, wrinkles and rough surfaces.
Another way to add texture is by using a variety of tools such as sponges and scrapers. Alternatively, you can use things such as sand or egg shell to create an interesting surface. Remember to vary the amount of paint you apply and the way you use your brush, for example short little strokes can look like fur, while longer smoother strokes will create a more glossy finish.