Painting is a visual art characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or another medium to a solid surface. It is commonly applied with a brush, although other implements such as sponges and airbrushes are also used. Over the centuries, painters have worked out efficient systems for starting and developing paintings, and many of these methods are still in use today. While it is not possible to recreate a painting from an earlier time, by learning about the different styles of painting and trying them out yourself, you can create a style that reflects your own interests and concerns.
The art of painting involves the skillful arrangement of line, shapes, colors, tones and textures on a flat surface to convey sensations of movement, volume, space and light. It can depict a natural scene or object, describe a narrative or be wholly abstract. Its history stretches back to prehistoric cave paintings, and it remains one of the most universal forms of human artistic expression.
In modern times, the art of painting can be divided into two broad categories: realistic and abstract. Realistic paintings strive for accurate, detailed and unembellished depiction of nature or contemporary life, avoiding imaginative idealization and emphasizing close observation. The most popular type of realistic painting is still oil, a technique that allows for thick applications of paint and creates a variety of textures and three-dimensional effects. Alternatively, artists may choose to paint in a more abstract style, such as pointillism, which uses small dots of pigments to create the illusion of an image.
Abstract painting is a more free-form style that seeks to express feelings and ideas rather than specific representational images. It is often characterized by a sense of movement and rhythm, and it can be quite challenging to master. The art of abstract painting has evolved over the years as new tools and techniques have emerged. In the early twentieth century, artists began to explore a wide range of media, including enamel, plastics and acrylics.
The art of painting is an integral part of the human experience, and it has been a major influence on culture throughout history. It can be as simple as a cave painting in the Neolithic period, or as complex as a mural on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. While some forms of art are more recognizable than others, the art of painting is always evolving and changing, reflecting current trends in culture and society. While some of these changes are purely aesthetic, other influences have more significant cultural or political implications.