Art Basics: Paintings
Q. What is Figurative Painting?
This term is commonly used to describe a general category of paintings in which the human form is a dominant feature. The category includes: portraiture, subject-paintings, “conversation pieces”, and genre-pictures.
Q. What are the advantages of using oil paints?
Oil paint (typically a mixture of pigments and vegetable oils like linseed, walnut, poppyseed) is used mainly for its flexibility and depth of color. It can be applied in many different ways, from thin glazes to thicker pigment, and being very slow to dry, artists can continue working oils for much longer than other types of paint. Oils also produce greater richness and tonal variety of color.
Q. What are the benefits of using watercolors?
Watercolors are cheaper, easier (historically) to obtain, dry faster and are easier to use than oils. Unfortunately, watercolor paint tends to fade with time.
Source: Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art. Additional information can be found at or http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/art-questions.htm