Paint
DEFINITION
A coloring fluid for surfaces made from ground pigments placed in a liquid called binder that allows spreading or dispersion. For quality paint, the pigment must be finely ground so that the application is smooth. For centuries, artists had to mix their own paints, and learning professional paint-mixing methods with appropriate binder to pigment proportions was a part of art training. However, in the 19th century the sale of paint in tubes freed artists not only from this task but from the confines of studio painting to the outdoors, which opened the door to plein-air painting. Sources: Ralph Mayer, "A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques"; Kimberley Reynolds & Richard Seddon, "Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms"<br><br>Animation of a brush splashing paint from a can as it stirsPigment that is dispersed into a liquid, called a vehicle, that includes a binder to make it adhere both to itself and to the surface to which it is applied. Many can have a matte, semi-gloss, or glossy finish. Types of paint include tempera, watercolor, oil paint, gouache, enamel, encaustic, fresco, lacquer, oriental lacquer, acrylic, and secco.There are health hazards associated with the handling of various paints. They are described on the paint's container, and more fully on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which can be obtained from the paint's manufacturer.Also see blot, Duco, filter, ink, painting, painterly, toluene, wash, and xylene.<br><br>Animation of a brush splashing paint from a can as it stirsPigment that is dispersed into a liquid, called a vehicle, that includes a binder to make it adhere both to itself and to the surface to which it is applied. Many can have a matte, semi-gloss, or glossy finish. Types of paint include tempera, watercolor, oil paint, gouache, enamel, encaustic, fresco, lacquer, oriental lacquer, acrylic, and secco.There are health hazards associated with the handling of various paints. They are described on the paint's container, and more fully on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which can be obtained from the paint's manufacturer.Also see blot, Duco, filter, ink, painting, painterly, toluene, wash, and xylene.