A Level Art and Design Edexcel

Painting and Drawing: Characteristics of Materials

Composition of Media

• Oil paint is made by mixing pigment with an oil that dries very slowly. The paint remains workable for some time, allowing for changes, yet produces glossy, vibrant results once dry.
• Acrylic paint is composed of pigment, binder and water, drying quickly to a water-resistant flexible surface. It allows for a wider range of effects due to this versatility.
• Watercolour paint uses water soluble pigments, enabling a thin, transparent layer of paint which dries quickly that can create layering or wash effects.
• Pastels are pigments mixed with a binder, resulting in a dry, stick format that produces bright, soft effects instantly with rapid application and blending capability.
• Charcoal offers a rich black tone and creates bold, heavy lines or softer, smoky effects, depending on the level of pressure applied.
• Graphite pencils come in a variety of hardness levels affecting the intensity and depth of line, suitable for detailed line work and shading.

Application and Techniques

• Layers and glazes can be created using oil paint due to its slow drying time, allowing richness and depth of tone.
• Wet-on-wet is a technique that works well with both oil and acrylics, blending colours directly on the canvas for an interplay of colour and texture.
• Stippling and Scumbling techniques allow acrylics to replicate the texture of surfaces.
• Watercolours are suited for wet-on-dry and dry brush techniques, allowing for gradation of hues and softer effects.
• Hatching and cross-hatching are techniques used with graphite and charcoal to create shading and tonal effects.

Effect on Visual Properties

• Oil paints can produce a glossiness and are excellent for rendering depth and luminosity, allowing for a 3D effect.
• Acrylics can be manipulated to mimic the visual properties of oils and watercolours, from thick, visible strokes to a watercolour-styled wash.
• Watercolour's translucency is perfect for achieving lightness, airiness, and spontaneity.
• Pastels can create a texture and vibrant colour difficult to achieve with other mediums.
• Charcoal, due to its opacity and richness of black, can produce strong contrasts, highlighting the interplay of light and shadow.
• Graphite pencils provide accuracy and precision, which is excellent for detailed and realistic renderings.