Life Style / Painting Glossary

Altarpiece: A decorated screen, panel or series of panels, fixed or movable, placed on or behind the altar. Normally it would carry paintings or reliefs. Two hinged panels comprise a diptych, three a tr . . . View Full Definition

Aluminum Paint: A paint that includes aluminum particles and gives a metallic finish when dried.

Analogous Colours: A grouping of related colours next to each other on the colour wheel. Example: Yellow, Yellow Green, and Green.

Anchoring: Mechanical bonding of a coating to a rough surface as contrasted with adhesion, which is chemical bonding.

Aniline: A derivative of coal tar used to produce brilliant, but not necessarily permanent, colors.

Anti-Corrosive Paint: Metal paint designed to inhibit corrosion. Applied directly to metal.

Antique Finish: A finish usually applied to furniture or woodwork to give the appearance of age.

Aquarelle: The French term for the process and product of painting in transparent watercolour.

Archival Paper: Archival watercolor paper is any pure 100% rag , cotton, or linen watercolor paper of neutral or slightly low ph, alkaline (base) vs. Acidic, and pure ingredients. Some synthetic papers are . . . View Full Definition

Armenian Bole: A rich, fine, red clay used as a ground on a gesso panel for gold-leaf. The strong colour serving to enrich the optical effect of the very thin metal.

Atmospheric Perspective: Suggesting perspective in a painting with changes in tone and colour between foreground and background. The background is usually blurred and hues are less intense.

Back Glass Painting: Painting pictures on the back of sheets of glass. With this manner the artist has to work his picture backwards, starting with what would be the finishing strokes with the conventional metho . . . View Full Definition

Back Primed: When a coat of paint is applied to the back of woodwork and exterior siding to prevent moisture from entering the wood and causing the grain to swell.

Back Runs: When your fresh brush stroke hits a still damp wash it will force the original wash out in a irregular, often fractal manner. This can totally screw up what you are intending to do, unless y . . . View Full Definition

Background: The area of a painting farthest from the viewer. In a landscape this would include the sky and horizon. In a still life or portrait it could be a wall or room interior.

Batik: Using wax resist designs on dyed fabrics. Colors are dyed lightest color to darkest color, with new design elements added before each color bath.

Beeswax: Has many uses in art, including: mixed with turpentine to make a wax polish for finishing oils, tempera and alkyds; mixed with varnish and turpentine to prepare a painting medium for oils; a . . . View Full Definition

Benzine: Often used as a lacquer dilutent. Highly volatile and a fire hazard in shipping and storing.

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