The Evolution of Paint

Dear All,

Have you ever wondered about the history of paint? Maybe you have taken for granted how accessible paint is today to artists and non-artists alike. 

In the Stone Age, for example, cave-art was created with rocks, red ochre and black pigment. Today there are so many different types of paints and brands that it can be overwhelming to choose one.

During the Renaissance, painters had to grind pigment to create their own paint. How organic, right? Well the problem with these types of 'homemade' paints is that they dried-out really fast restricting artists who used them to studio painting only. The most effective way to use these types of paints was to mix two colors at a time, while filling in the ares where that particular color was required before the paint would completely dry-out. 

The breakthrough...

In 1841 the American artist,  John G. Rand, invented the small flexible tin tube with removable cap to store oils in. By the way, without this "minor" invention my favorite period of art, the Impressionist movement, would not have emerged! Today, artists are spoiled, as they now have an extensive selection of paints that free them from the studio and allow them to create art in many different environments.

Thank you, Mr. Rand!

A list of the most common used paint:

• Oil paint 
• Acrylic paint 
• Watercolor 
• Gouache
• Ink 

Artists have different preferences for which medium they choose to work with. Each one produces a different look depending on the type of surface they are painted on. Oil paint is a pigment which requires the drying of oil as the binder. Acrylic paint is water-soluble, but becomes water resistant when it drys. Watercolor is a paint that is mixed with water instead of oil, most common used to paint on paper. Gouache paint is centuries old with characteristics of acrylic and watercolor. There are different types of ink which have been around for a very long time. It is made out of using carbon black and white pigments and may contain additives like wax, surfactants and lubricants. 

Next time you stop by your local arts and craft store, thank John G. Rand and science for making paint so accessible to all. I wonder what the continual evolution of paint will bring us years down the road? I am excited to find out! 

Happy painting friends!