Art Glossary - ​MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Acrylic
The substance that binds the pigment (color) is a synthetic resin, rather than natural oils. Acrylic painting has the advantage of drying faster than oil paint. This modern technique is in widespread use today and can be applied to canvas, linen, paper or wood.
Ceramic
An earthenware or porcelain product made from a nonmetallic mineral, such as clay, by firing at a high temperature.
Collage
A composition made up of various materials, such as paper or cloth.
Drybrush
The use of a small amount of pigment on the brush to create a linear application of pigment, yielding a range of line characteristics.
Gesso
A material used to prime a canvas or linen surface, allowing it to accept the paint more readily and not be absorbed into the surface. Gesso can also be applied to wood and sanded to create a fine and smooth painting surface.
Glazing
The opposite of impasto, glazing is done by diluting the pigments and layering one color over another. Glazing lends a softness and delicacy to the surface. It is most effective with an under-painted tone and glazes applied on top.
Gouache
A medium similar to watercolor, but heavier and opaque, because of a gum substance added to the ground pigment (color) and water. Most often applied to paper.
Impasto
The application of thick paint to the surface of the canvas or board to build up the textures. Impasto can be applied with a brush or palette knife.
Oil
A type of paint made with natural oils, such as linseed, walnut, or poppy, as the medium to bind the pigment (color). Oil painting, the traditional technique employed by artists for centuries, is typically applied to canvas, linen, paper or wood.
Pastel
A type of dried paste made of pigments ground with chalk and compounded with gum water.
Scumbling
A shading technique created by forcing the brush to open with pressure onto the surface of the canvas or board, resulting in a loose and textural type of brush stroke.
Tempera
A water-based painting medium which has been employed for centuries. Typically bound with egg yolks, tempera is applied primarily to paper or paper-board.
Watercolor
A transparent painting medium using ground pigment mixed with water, most often using the whiteness of the paper in conjunction with the transparency of the pigment (color) to create effects. A highly difficult medium to master, watercolor dries very quickly and requires a great degree of practice to master.
Varnish
An oil or water-based solution applied to a finished painting to cover and protect the work. Varnishing can result in a gloss, satin or matte finish. It may sometimes be applied purely for aesthetic reasons.

Source: Park West Gallery