Life Style / Painting Glossary

Ferrule: The metal cylinder that surrounds and encloses the hairs on a brush. Customarily made of nickel or nickel-plated base metal.

Figure: A human or animal form.

Filler: Any compound used to fill large cracks in walls that can be sanded when dried.

Filler Strips: Strips made from specially treated wood, metal. Fiber or plastic in the center of a paintbrush, creating a reservoir of paint, thereby greatly increasing the paint carrying capacity.

Film: Layer or coat of paint or other finish.

Finish Coat: Last coat of paint or other finish.

Fixatif: (also spelt 'fixative' ) A thin varnish of watery consistency, used to keep drawings from smudging.

Fixative: A liquid, that may be shellac in methylated spirits or synthetic cellulose solution, that is intended to be sprayed as a fine mist on to charcoal, soft pencil, chalk or pastel to consolidate . . . View Full Definition

Flaking: A form of paint failure characterized by the detachment of small pieces of the film from the surface of previous coat of paint. Cracking or blistering usually precedes it.

Flash Point: The temperature at which a coating or solvent will ignite.

Flat: A paint surface that scatters or absorbs the light falling on it so as to be substantially free from gloss or sheen.

Flat Applicator: A rectangular shaped flat pad with an attached handle that is used to paint shingles, shakes and other special surfaces and areas.

Flat Color: Any area of a painting that has an unbroken single hue and value.

Flat Wash: Any area of a painting where a wash of single colour and value is painted in a series of multiple, overlapping stokes following the flow of the paint. A slightly tilted surface aids the flow . . . View Full Definition

Flexibility: Ability of a coating to expand and contract during temperature changes.

Floating: Separation of pigment colors on the surface of applied paint.

Flow: The ability of a coating to level out and spread into a smooth film, paints that have a good flow usually level out uniformly and exhibit few brush or roller marks.

Foreground: The area of a painting closest to the viewer. In a landscape this would include the area from the viewer to the middle distance. See Background, Middle ground.

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