Oil paint is a thick colorant, composed of powdered pigments and a binding agent, originally natural linseed, walnut, or poppy oil. Its drying time is rather long, an inconvenience greatly compensated for by its capacity to blend well and mix colors. It thus enables the artist to create gradations and contrasts of great quality.

In [Read more]

Before 15th century, artists mostly used water- or wax-based colors to create their works. If a few artists had already become familiar with some types of oil painting, it was, however, the Fleming Jan Van Eyck who precipitated its advent and popularized a revolutionary technique.

Oil was henceforth cooked and diluted with a substance [Read more]

Many historians consider Still-Life with Chair Caning as the first work of art which contains both painting and collage. Created by Pablo Picasso in 1912, it is composed of oil paint, fabric, and oilcloth, framed by a simple twined rope.

Acrylic paint has a rather recent history. It was invented and launched onto the market at the beginning of the 50's by researchers at the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico City who wished to create a resistant and permanent artistic medium.

It's made out of pigments, the same used for oil colors and acrylic resin. This type of [Read more]

The Renaissance is a slice of history particularly rich in cultural innovations and discoveries. If, however, it's rather difficult to place it in time, we often describe it as pivotal period between the medieval era and modern times.

It is characterized by the broad diffusion of knowledge among well-read people, in particular in the [Read more]

Although the art of the fresco is usually practiced in other regions of the world, according to the period, we associate it more frequently with Italian artists.

The fresco enjoyed its golden age in the Italy of the Renaissance, from Giotto (master of the Pre-Renaissance) to Michelangelo and Raphael.

During the 16th century, [Read more]