Painting: oil, tempera, watercolor
The binder, base and sequence of layers determine the capabilities of the paint.
Key ideas
In oil painting, pigment is mixed with drying oil; Slow drying allows you to work with transitions and layers. Tempera uses a water-miscible binder, often egg. Watercolor is often based on the transparency of layers and the reflection of light from the paper.
Looking deeper
No technique prescribes one style. Oil can be subtle or impasto, watercolor can be loose or detailed. The base, primer, pigment and surface condition affect the result. Late darkening and fading may change the original color relationships.
Compare the fine glaze and raised brush mark in the high-resolution reproductions.
Find the work in the museum's official catalog and start with a description of the visible details.Describe the surface: is the base transparent, is the relief visible, are the layers distinguishable?
Useful terms
- Color relationships
- The system of color relationships in a work. Not only individual colors are important, but also their lightness, saturation and interaction.
- Glazing
- A thin transparent or translucent layer of paint that changes the appearance of the underlying color.
External educational material or museum catalogue. The above review is not a literal translation of the source.