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Acrylic paints:
Made from dispersing pigment in acrylic medium. Water
soluble, fast drying and dries to a tough, flexible,
water resistant surface. Bole: Gilding
- Traditionally, bole is a term that
identifies a pigmented clay. This clay acts as
the base, or cushion, for the subsequent layer
of gold leaf. Classically terra-cotta in color,
the clay can be built up quickly, then polished
to a very smooth surface.
Contemporary gilding does not use clay, but
simulates the effect by adding a colored paint
that replicates the clay effect. This
base color is also referred to as the 'Bole'
color. One can experiment with different colors
and your choice will affect the overall
appearance of the finished product. For example,
the traditional terra-cotta color adds warmth to
both gold and silver leaf. A black 'bole' color
creates a hard, cold look - often appropriate for
Art Deco pieces, and the like. A yellow
'bole' color evens out the overall appearance,
and diminishes any cracks or 'holidays' on the
gilded surface.
Encaustic: fine arts, wax painting - A
hot wax method of painting. The process of painting on
a surface with paints created by mixing dry pigment
with molten wax (typically refined white beeswax) with
the addition of varying amounts of Damar varnish. A
warm working palette is employed when applying the
encaustic method. The ability to manipulate the
surface of the wax, creating any texture imagined, and
limitless color combinations make this form of
painting particularly interesting. The final treatment
to the encaustic painting, called 'burning in' (the
meaning of the word 'encaustic') is achieved by
passing a heat source over the completed painting,
essentially fusing the layers together. A light
polish with a clean rag brings the surface to a
smooth, satin finish. Encaustic wax paintings are
generally applied using brushes and palette knives.
Engraving: printing - A general term to describe both the process of working on
metal plates for
the purpose of printing and the product.
Traditionally, metal plates were made of copper, but
after the 1820’s, steel became increasingly
important.
Gilding - The process known as
gilding simply
means the application of gold, silver, or copper
leaf to
a surface that has been properly prepared with
an adhesive known as 'gold size'. Additional
forms of leaf are variegated leaf, Dutch gold
(primarily made from brass and simulated gold leaf)
and Aluminum leaf (used to simulate silver leaf.
Gouache: fine arts - Lead white mixed with watercolor
pigment to make it opaque. Unlike the transparent
quality of watercolor, gouache has a definite paint
thickness and creates an actual paint layer. The use of gouache can be
reserved for highlights, particularly white
highlights, or a ‘watercolor’ can be executed
entirely in gauche.
Hammers:
Multi purpose tool primarily designed for the
insertion and removal of nails into wood, metal and
stone surfaces.
Types of hammers:
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Metal: For nail driving
and removal.
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Rubber: Various uses.
Used when needed to adjust softer surfaces, such
as wooden frames. Non-marring.
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Rawhide: Used in the
processes of jewelry
making. Non-marring.
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Plastic: Non-marring.
-
Brass head hammers: Used
with steel tools for safer use and added longevity
to steel tools.
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Ball Peen hammers:
General-purpose hammer used for flattening,
shaping or removing dents.
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Mallets: Primarily made
of wood. Mallets are used to drive chisels when
wood and stone carving.
Holiday: Gilding - A
gilders term that refers to an area were the
leaf did not initially adhere. Holidays
are caused by 2 things. First, in the
application process, the leaf just did not
stick to the 'tacky' surface. Simply apply
fresh leaf and rub down. Secondly, when you
applied the 'size' in step 4, you missed an
area leaving a bald spot, and there is no adhesive for the leaf to
stick to. After you have completed leafing the
entire surface, including patching in all
holidays, re-apply more 'size' to the missing
spots with a small artists brush, allow to
come to 'tack' as before, then apply leaf to
the newly sized area.
Ink: fine arts,
illustration, calligraphy - Applied with a brush, quill or pen, ink
can be used in painting and illustration by layers of
washes, similar to watercolor painting techniques.
Sometimes used as the ground color in ‘stained ‘
or ‘tinted’ drawing. Regularly used as the preferred
medium for calligraphy and various forms of lettering.
Isolating varnish: fine
arts - Often used between coats of
paint. It does not dissolve in mineral
spirits.
For more information on Varnish visit
the artSparx varnish
resource.
Lacquer: sealer - Used
commonly in the industrial environment,
particularly in the automotive industry
and furniture production. Lacquer is
well suited for mass production
processes. Lacquers are typically made
of nitro-cellulose, cellulose acetate,
and other forms of cellulose. Lacquers
dissolve in special solvents such as
acetone, ethyl acetate, butyl alcohol,
etc.
Lacquers should not be used in Fine Art
painting as its level of permanence is
low. Pigmented lacquers display signs of
deterioration in as little as 10 years,
from exposure to daylight.
Lacquers are often used because of their
fast drying time.
Natural lacquer (Oriental): Exude
natural from trees in a liquid state.
Natural lacquer is used for local
production and is not exported.
Line engraving: printing
- Lines are incised into the
plate with a burin, or sharp metal rod, light and
shade being established by varying the depth and
breadth of the incised line. To print, the plate is
inked and then wiped, leaving the ink within the
depressions created by the burin, while the un-incised
areas remain blank; under pressure of the printing
press the ink in the depressions is transferred to the
paper.
Linseed Oil: Often used as a
vehicle for pigment in Artist oil paint.
Linseed oil is processed from the ripe
seeds of the flax plant.
Mezzotint: engraving,
printing - A form of tonal engraving which,
works from dark to light. The plate is prepared with a
dense mesh of small burred dots created by a toothed, chisel-like
tool known
as a ‘rocker’. If inked and printed at this stage,
the print would be black. Tonal gradations are
achieved by using a scraper to remove greater or
lesser amounts of the small burred dots, the areas of
most intense light being created by burnishing the
plate. When inked, the areas retaining the most burred
dots create the darkest zones because they retain the
most ink, while burnished areas create the highlights
as they are not able to hold ink.
Mixing varnish: fine arts -
Varnish added to glaze medium or to tube
colors to create various specialty
techniques in oil painting.
For more information on Varnish visit
the artSparx varnish
resource.
Nails:
Nap and nap grades:
Roller nap refers to the thickness of the rollers
surface. One chooses the thickness of the nap
depending on the surface to be painted, stained or
varnished. Learn more about roller
naps and what the proper grade nap is for your
job.
Paint: A paint is created by
mixing ground pigment (powdered colors)
with a liquid, typically referred to as
a 'vehicle'. Paint dries to an even,
continuous surface and is used for
decorative or protective purposes.
Depending on the type of
paint, the vehicle may be of various different forms,
such as linseed oil in Artist oil paints, egg yolk for
tempera painting and polyresin in acrylics, to name a
few.
Learn more about paints at artSparx
paint resource.
Paint removers, Varnish removers, Wax removers:
There are numerous techniques and products
available commercially to remove paint, varnishes and
waxes from surfaces such as floors, trim, doors and
window frames, furniture and objects. For more
information refer to artSparx
paint remover resource.
Paint rollers: Roller heads are designed to facilitate in the
application of paint over large surfaces. Rollers are
made in varying thick nesses and materials, with each
one being used for a specific surface texture. Rollers
can be made from foam, synthetic fibers and sheepskin.
For more information refer to artSparx
roller guide.
Paint trays and tray liners: Design to hold
paint or varnish to be used with a roller. Helps the
even distribution of paint or varnish onto a roller
for quick application onto large surfaces such as
walls, floors and ceilings. Paint trays are produced
in many sizes and disposable paint tray liners are
time saving and make for easy clean up.
Paper: The basis to all paper is cellulose
fiber, which is derived from plants. Until the
1840’s, when pulp was introduced, most papers were
made from cotton or linen rags. By the end of the 18th
century watercolorists were beginning to prefer the
smoother and more even appearance of woven paper,
produced by using a wire mesh woven like a piece of
fabric.
Pastel: fine arts, illustration - One
of the purest forms of colored pigment application.
Essentially created in the past 200 years, pastels are
crayon like sticks of varying hardness. Essentially,
pastels are pigment sticks with little binder. It is
because of this that the color retention of pastel
drawing remain over many years. Often a fixative is
required (commonly by spraying) to insure pastel
drawings maintain over the years as the low binder
content means this painting/drawing medium is quite
fragile.
Pencil: Made of graphite, a crystalline form
of carbon, mixed with clay. There are varying degrees
of hardness for pencils, the softest
varieties contain little or no clay.
Pencils are rated and labeled by degrees
of hardness. 6B is very soft, producing
a darker line. HB and F are the middle
degree of hardness. 2H up to 8H
(hardest) and produce very light
graphite deposits respectively
Picture varnish: fine arts
Used as a final coating over oil
paintings. Creates a uniform finish and
a protective coating.
For more information on Varnish visit
the artSparx varnish
resource.
Pigments:
 Dry
pigment powders have been proven to
present a health hazard. Always use
protective clothing, such as gloves and
a dust/particle mask. Many pigments are
toxic and can enter the body through the
skin and inhalation.
A pigment is a finely ground, colored
substance that, when mixed with another
material, imparts its color effect to
that material. When a pigment is mixed
with a liquid vehicle to form paint, the
pigment is suspended in that vehicle.
When a pigment is completely dissolved
in a vehicle it is known as a dye.
Power tools:
Primer: A primer acts as a barrier coat
between existing (original) surface and finish coats
of paint. Primers bond with and act as a ‘ground’
for subsequent paint application, gilding and
varnished treatments.
Primers differ in make-up, and various types are
commercially available for use in a variety of
functions. For more information refer to artSparx
primer resource.
Proof: printing - In print making, a loose term to
denote the first prints taken from a plate before the
final published edition is printed. An engraver’s
proof is one taken during the engraving process so
that process can be monitored, and if necessary,
corrections, additions and modifications to the design
can be made.
Re-touch varnish: fine
arts - Enhances the appearance of
wet oil paintings on a dry canvas before
continuing painting.
For more information on Varnish visit
the artSparx varnish
resource.
Scratching out: watercolor
- In watercolor, this process
is a means of creating highlight by removing an area
of watercolor with a knife, the point of a brush or
even a fingernail to expose the paper beneath.
Scrapers: A flat surface, typically made of
metal, of varying sizes and widths. Used in the
preparation and re-finishing of furniture, objects and
commercial and residential building. Scrapers can have
replaceable razor blades for use on glass and paint
stripping. Scrapers are similar to some kinds of
trowels, they are often broad, firm and flat blades
used for paint and varnish removal from wood and metal
surfaces.
Screwdrivers: Used for
inserting and removing screws from metal, wood,
plaster and stone surfaces. The head of a screwdriver
can have different shapes. The most common being the
flat head and the Philips head.
Screws:
Screws have different functions and are coated
and tempered differently dependant on there use. The
configuration of
a screw head varies, the most common being the
flat head and the Philips head screw.
Scumble glaze - general term for a medium,
usually acrylic, that binds colorant for use in glazed
wall treatments.
Sealers: A sealer is a substance used to protect a surface
from oxidation, natural deterioration and physical
abuse. Numerous types of sealers are found
commercially, each providing a specific solution for a
sealers needs.
For more information on Varnish visit
the artSparx sealer
resource.
Sheen: paint and varnish sheens. Sheen
refers to the light reflectivity of the painted or
varnished surface. There are varying degrees of
sheen’s, from no sheen to high gloss. Paint
manufacturers may refer to their paint sheen’s by
different names, but essentially they all correspond
to these reflective degrees;
- matte finish (flat finish)
- Eggshell finish (low-luster)
- Satin finish ( Pearl finish)
- Semi gloss finish
- High gloss finish.
Learn were to use the proper paint
sheen.
Shellac:
sealer - Shellac is produced
from the secretions of a bug, deposited
on branches of trees in India. Shellac can be diluted
with denatured alcohol to make the shellac workable, or to dissolve and remove
shellac. Typically used on furniture, shellac can be used as a fast drying
sealer. French Polish and simulated lacquer techniques employ the use of
shellac as a sealer.
Size: Gilding - General term used to identify the
adhesive that attaches the leaf to a
surface.
There are different types of size, depending
on the form of gilding.
Water gilding uses a gelatin
size.
Oil gilding (most common ) uses a
oil-based size.
Acrylic gilding uses a water based
size.
For most common
gilding practices a 3 hour, 'quick drying' size
is all you will need. It is an oil based product
and can be cleaned with mineral spirits. Apply
carefully and evenly, working the size to an
even film as much as possible. When competed,
clean your brush with mineral spirits.
Skewings: Gilding
-The bits of leaf that are left over after a surface
has been completely gilded. Skewings can be saved for
other projects, making excellent fillers for patching
holidays.
Solvents and thinners:
A solvent is a solution that breaks down the
essential properties of paints and varnishes, lacquer,
shellac, oils, grease and adhesive residues. There are
many different kings of solvents, each performing a
specific reaction (function) with a specific product.
All solvents, except for water, have a toxic effect on
organic tissue, biochemical, physiochemical and
neurochemical. Use with care and always dispose of
properly. Learn more about solvents at artSparx
solvent and thinner resource.
Sponging out: In watercolor, sponging out is
a method of creating a highlight. An area of color is
removed from the paper, exposing the paper beneath.
Tack: Gilding - Refers to the state
of the adhesive size. Proper tack for gilding is the
point when the size is not longer wet, but not fully
dry, hence it is 'tacky' or just slightly sticky. The
proper time to apply your gold or silver leaf is when the
'size' is not wet but 'tacky', just before it dries
completely. 3 hour 'quick drying' size comes to
'tack' in approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, reaching
full dryness at around 3 hours (hence it's name
'3 hour quick drying size').
Tack cloths:
A cheesecloth that has been impregnated with
varnish to create a slightly sticky, or tacky surface.
Commercially available, tack cloths are used
extensively in the commercial and residential painting
communities and the furniture and refinishing
industries. Due to the stickiness of the cloth, tack
cloths are used to remove dust and loose particles
from any surface prior to painting, staining or
varnishing.
Tempura paint: fine arts - Though
a loosely used term, tempura painting is
essentially pigment that is suspended in
egg yolk as a vehicle. Dries hard and
can be used in conjunction with oil
painting, as a ground work. Egg yolk can
be mixed with Stand oil to create a
oil-tempura emulsion.
Varnish: A liquid that dries
to a hard, transparent film.
Varnishes vary in composition resulting
in a range of degrees of sheen,
durability, flexibility and protection.
Varnishes are also used as 'barrier
coats' in painting techniques.
For more information on Varnish visit
the artSparx varnish
resource.
Vignette: A small illustration or design in
a book , on furniture and objects, that does not have
any definite boundaries, and thus appears to
‘emerge’ from the surrounding surface.
Wash: An application of color over an area
that cannot easily be covered with one brushstroke.
Watercolor: A finely ground pigment combined
with a water soluble binding agent, commonly gum
Arabic. It is usually distributed in either tubes or
cakes. Water is used as the vehicle to spread and
dilute the color, and it subsequently evaporates. It
is the gum Arabic that binds the pigments to the
surface of the support, which is usually paper.
White pigmented shellac: Products
such as BIN is commercially available. Essentially a combination of
shellac, denatured alcohol and titanium dioxide, pigmented shellac makes an excellent fast drying sealer, especially good for covering
water spots, bare wood that has sap exposure and surfaces that may have slight
grease or wax build up.
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