Text 13

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PAINTING MATERIALS

An artist makes a picture by spreading paint on a surface, such as a wall or a piece of fabric, paper, or wood. The appearance of the picture is affected by the surface on which it is painted, the kind of paint that is used, and the liquid that is used to thin the paint.

Paints are made by mixing dry powdered colours called pigments with sticky substances called binders. As the binder dries or hardens, it holds the pigment to the picture surface.

Early artists made their pigments from earth that had been coloured by mineral deposits. Artists still use many such natural pigments. But artists today also use pigments that are produced artificially by industrial processes.

Many kinds of binders are available to painters. One group of binders is made of vegetable gums, such as gum arabic, thinned with water. Other binders include vegetable oils, such as linseed oil, poppy seed oil, and walnut oil; beewax; egg yolk; some kinds of glue; natural resins made from liquids in trees; and artificial resins made industrially. The binder used by an artist affects his work. For example, each binder causes a different amount of gloss and texture in the painting. Some binders dry quickly and others dry slowly. The binder an artist selects depends on the painting technique he uses. For example, linseed oil is used for oil painting and gum arabic is used for watercolours.

Artists use paint thinners (also called painting mediums) along with pigments and binders. An artist uses a thinner to get his paint to the liquid state he prefers. Watercolours require water as a thinner. Oil paints may be thinned with turpentine or a combination of oils, turpentine, and varnish.

Artists use brushes and painting knives to put paint on the picture surface. The best brushes are made by hand from high-grade raw materials, such as sable hair or pig bristles. Brushes come in many lengths and shapes, allowing artists to produce various kinds of strokes.

Do the exercises below.

Exercise 1. Answer the questions below.

1. How does an artist make a picture?

2. What are pigments?

3. What did early artists make their pigments from?

4. What are binders made of?

5. What do artists use along with pigments and binders?

6. What do watercolours require as a thinner?

7. What do artists use to put paint on the picture surface?

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences from the text.

1. An artist makes a picture by ... . 2. The appearance of the picture is affected by ... . 3. Paints are made by ... . 4. Early artists made their pigments from ... . 5. But artists today also use pigments that ... . 6. One group of binders is made of ... . 7. Other binders include vegetable oils, such as ... . 8. The binder an artist selects depends on ... . 9. Artists use paint thinners (also called painting mediums) along with ... . 10. Watercolours require water as ... . 11. Oil paints may be thinned with ... . 12. Artists use brushes and painting knives to put ... . 13. The best brushes are made by ... .

Exercise 3. Find English equivalents of the following words from

the text and memorize them:

намазувати; тканина; рідина; порошок; клейка речовина; зв’язуюча речовина; штучно; рослинний клей; лляна олія; бджолиний віск; яєчний жовток; натуральні смоли; глянець; акварелі; розчинник; скипидар; оліфа; пензель; щетина; штрих.