Pastels are divided into dry, oil, and wax pastels, all of which come in softer or harder varieties depending on their composition. The technique for drawing with charcoal and chalk is very similar to that used with dry pastels. Dry pastels Dry pastels are manufactured so that their composition includes as few additives as possible...
Guided by their inspiration, any beginner who enjoys drawing in their free time will be satisfied with most types of writing instruments, even a simple ballpoint pen. As one’s skills improve, however, one comes to realize that the quality of the materials one uses plays a key role in producing a beautiful drawing. In that...
Before we look at the different ways to draw with oil pastels, we need to choose the right type of paper. Although they adhere to all kinds of surfaces, pastels work best on slightly textured cardstock. This can be cold-pressed cellulose or cotton paper, or specialized papers that feel similar to suede or fine sandpaper....
Flax The best professional canvases are made from high-quality linen canvas, with the smoother and rougher varieties being more expensive than those with medium texture. Their high price is also due to the origin of the raw material—flax is primarily grown in Western Europe, and the best one is made in Belgium. Furthermore, Flax fibers...
Why do we need watercolor markers? Watercolor markers offer many of the advantages of traditional watercolors, but in a more convenient, clean, quick, and tidy form. It’s easy to take them with us (one, a few, or more), and all it takes is a twist of the cap to set our inspiration and ideas free...
Key Characteristics of White Inks Coverage The opacity of white ink is determined by how well it covers black or tinted paper, as well as other inks. KThe characteristics of an ink are typically classified as high, medium, or low opacity. However, transparency—or the lack thereof—is not an indicator of the overall quality of a...
Which type of candle wax should we choose? Making high-quality candles that burn evenly, that create a cozy atmosphere is a science in itself, and choosing the right wax for candles is therefore crucial. The candle market, which has gained popularity recently, now offers eco-friendly and luxury alternatives such as coconut, palm, and rapeseed wax....
Beef gallbladder Adding ox gall to watercolor or tempera paint is useful for evenly coloring large areas (known as a “flat wash”), as well as for paints that are harder to dissolve and spread or that form round droplets on the paper. Examples include earth tones, whose pigment particles are heavier. In chemical terms ,...
Adhesion Adhesion refers to the degree to which a painting medium adheres to a surface, as well as the way in which this adhesion manifests itself. Opaque paints adhere to porous surfaces not only on the surface but also deep within the material. Wetter paints penetrate mainly into the surface, while solid media, such as...
The etymology of the well-known in the West “ mordant technique ” , also known in our country as mixion, is related to the property of certain materials to stick to the touch before they are completely dry. (from Latin: mordere – I’m munching). There are two types of mixtures onto which the gold leaf...
Lightfastness The degree of lightfastness reflects how much a coloring agent is affected by ultraviolet light. UV light is present in both natural daylight and artificial light, and it breaks down pigments, causing colors to fade. The time it takes for this to happen depends on the stability of the dye and the amount of...
Ingredients Paints (as well as pastels and ink) are made primarily from pigments and binders, supplemented by fillers, solvents, and other additives. We can classify colorants into pigments and dyes. The color, opacity (or transparency), and lightfastness of the paint depend on these. The binder protects the pigments and determines the adhesion (the paint’s ability...
Flaxseed oil Flaxseed oil is obtained by pressing flaxseed and has been the most important binder for oil paints. It is one of the so-called drying oils. In contrast, other types of oils produce less durable layers of paint, darken significantly, or dry too slowly. Although no single oil can fully meet every requirement, linseed...
The trends that have taken off over the past two years pearlescent, metallic, and iridescent and, generally speaking, shiny and light-reflecting art supplies have created the need for a rich, dark background against which they can stand out— such as watercolor sketchbooks with black paper. Of course, there has always been black cardstock suitable for...
