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A simple guide to understand the most popular mediums in paintings

Different mediums create a unique influence on paintings, whether its rich and intense like oil paintings, vibrant like acrylics or soothing like watercolors. Here is a simple guide to understand the most popular mediums in paintings.

        Oils: It is a traditional art technique that dates back to 15th century in Europe. Oil colors are made from pigments using linseed oil, poppy seed oil as binders. Every artist chooses a different kind of oil to create a different kind of effect on the canvas. Unlike other mediums oil paints take longer to dry out.

      Acrylics:  Acrylic paint contains properties of both oil and water. Known for its fast-drying ability and versatility acrylic paint is the most preferred medium for many artists today as it allows artists to add layers or textures to their artwork, enhancing glossiness and giving it depth. Alternatively, they can add water to achieve a matte effect in their paintings.

      Tempera: The term tempera refers to the style of painting consisting of colored pigments mixed with gluten containing material like egg yolk, honey etc. Used primarily for creating murals, tempera is a fast drying and long-lasting technique in painting. Some of the works created using this medium date back to 1st Century CE.


Watercolors: An ancient technique of painting, watercolor paintings date back to paleolithic era in Europe and Asia. It is a method of painting in which the paint is made of pigments dissolved in water-based solution. Many artists prefer using watercolors because of their seemingly endless color palette and luminous effects.

      Pastels: The use of pastel colors became popular in the 18th century. Known for its vibrancy and smooth textures, pastels are created by blending dry pigment, chalk and a binding material similar to oils. Some artists choose to work with oil pastels that provide an intensity of colors, while some prefer to work with water-soluble in order to achieve a semi-transparent color that blends easily.

 Mixed media: Mixed media is a technique which has existed from centuries but has gained popularity in recent times. It refers to the combination of two or more mediums used in creating an artwork. It can be a mix of paint, ink, metal, etc.  The new age style of work allows the artist to experiment with   a wide variety of effects and textures. 













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