Different types of paintings every artist should know about

With the advent of technology and new techniques, the way artists have painted and the mediums that they used have evolved. New technology means that the mediums used by artists have continued to diversify. There is a lot of variety to choose from - watercolor, poster, oil, acrylic, and much more. While some mediums are used regularly, others are a rare occurrence. 

Here are a few different types of paintings that every artist should know about.

Oil painting

This method of painting has been used by artists since centuries. It is a very slow-drying medium which is made by suspending color pigments in oil. Oil paints can be used to create some wonderful textured effects because of its thick consistency. Even though it can get messy using this medium, this happens to be one of the most popular types of painting.

Watercolour painting 

Watercolours are made from pigments suspended in a water-based solution. This is a tricky mode of painting which remains soluble even when dry. The brighter side is that it allows artists to make some corrections even when the painting is dry. There are many watercolour techniques that artists use to create different works of art. Most of these works, however, are done on paper.

Encaustic painting

This technique dates back to ancient Egypt and involves adding pigment to hot beeswax. The resulting paste is then applied to prepared wood. Some special tools are used to sculpt the liquid prior to cooling. 

Spray painting 

Spray paint was first invented in 1949. However, it became popular in the 1970s when graffiti artists took advantage of this new technology. This is mostly used by mural artists and graffiti artists on plaster, brick, and metal. The disadvantage is that spray paint contains toxic substances and it is always recommended for outdoor use.