This article aims at providing knowledge about various wet painting media
Watercolor
Watercolor is the pure pigment suspended in a water-based solution that can be diluted with water for application. It is transparent and highly luminescent. Quickly dries by evaporation to give matte-finish. Available in tubes and pans. Watercolor is transparent so it is worked from light value to dark value.
Gouache or Body color
Gouache is highly pigmented watercolor to which an opaque filler is added to give body. It can be diluted with water. It has a great covering capacity and can be worked from light to dark and dark to light value. It can also form superficial layers like acrylic or oil paint. Quickly dries by evaporation that dark color dries light and light color dries dark to give Matt finish. Both watercolor and gouache can be used together.
Egg Tempera
An ancient translucent medium made from pigments blended with egg yolk and diluted with water. It’s a fast-drying paint medium and is clear and glowing that dry to a semi-Matt finish.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a fast-drying paint medium based on acrylic resin. Can be diluted with water for application but becomes water-resistant when dry. Various acrylic gels, mediums, and pastes are available to modify its consistency, drying time and depending on which the finished look varies widely.
Oil
Oil paint is a slow drying paint medium that is made from pigment grounded in a drying oil. Usually linseed but for whites sometimes sunflower oil as they are less yellowing. Oil paint does not evaporate but oxidizes and allows the artist to superimpose layers of opaque and transparent paints. Can be diluted by adding turpentine. A wide range of additional oil, gel, painting butter and paste are available to alter the consistency and drying time.
Water Mixable Oil
Water Mixable oil is the recently engineered medium. Here the linseed oil and safflower oil vehicles have been modified to allow the color to mix with water, creating a stable emulsion, while retaining the working characteristics of traditional oil color. The paint can be diluted with water and ‘modified’ oil. While diluting with water makes it opaque but the ‘modified’ oil will retain its transparency.
Considering painting with mixed media the rule of thumb is “Fat over Lean”. Paint that has more oil content is considered fat. Given that, its good idea to paint with oil over acrylic. The reverse can result in defected paintings.
