Evolution of The Different Kinds of Styles And Techniques of Painting
The joy of painting in the 21st century is mainly due to the wide range of available styles and forms of expression. Most of these innovations were due to technological advancements like the invention of paint tubes and the evolution of photography.
Painting styles
History has many artists who practised art for years making a foundation for new styles and techniques of painting.
The top three styles are:
Oil painting
This is the most preferred style invented in the 15th century by Jan van Eyck. The famous artists were Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso.
Using oil paint gives versatility by creating layers of different colours and blending them to create brilliant artwork.
One of the Russian oil painting artists, Lana Zueva who resides in Australia is worth mentioning. Her oil paintings translate her feelings creating something unique each time she paints. Paintings by Lana Zueva strive to capture dimension and depth accurately besides capturing light. She paints in every style like landscapes, animals, flora, still life, and portraits.
Lana has also participated in exhibitions and has been offering commission work to her customers. She won the award for her portrait “Sunny Bunny” which was exhibited in the Gold Coast Show 2021.
Acrylic painting
This is one of the very common types of paintings that uses fast-drying water-resistant acrylic colours. It was invented around 1934 by Leonard Bocour and Sam Golden. The famous artists are Andy Warhol, Robert Motherwell, and David Hockney.
Watercolour painting
Invented around 1.4 million years ago in the stone age. The famous watercolour artists were Albrecht Durer, Paul Klee, and John Singer Sargent.
The other famous styles of painting followed are:
- Charcoal painting
- Portrait painting
- Pencil Sketch
- Spray painting
- Allegory
- Graffiti
- Panorama
- Fresco
- Glass Painting
- Gouache Painting
- Landscape Painting
- Still Life
- Tempera Painting
- Mural Painting
- Panel Painting
- Digital Painting
- Sand Painting
- Pastel Painting
- Encaustic Painting
- Action Painting
- Ink Painting
- Collage Painting
- Figure Painting
Seven schools of painting
Seven major styles of art were known as “movements” or “schools:
1) Realism: It was mainly true art where the artist uses perspective to create an illusion of space and depth. A perfect example is Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”.
2) Painterly: Artists emphasized not trying to hide what was used to create the painting. The paintings of Henry Matisse are perfect examples.
3) Impressionism: Artists captured light not through realism but with gesture and illusion. Examples are the paintings of Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.
4) Expressionism: It includes using bold unrealistic colours chosen not to depict life but as it appears or feels to the artist. It could be a feeling of horror, frolicking dancers, or pastoral scenes.
5) Abstract: This included less realistic painting emphasizing more on the essence of a subject rather than visible details.
6) Photorealism: This style seems more real than reality with no detail left out and no insignificant flaw.
Art is a creative endeavour that needs three Ps:
- Patience
- Persistence
- Perseverance
Attaining mastery of painting styles and techniques needs years of practice and perfection.