What Materials Are Used in Modern Art?
With Modern art, the materials used depend on the preferences of the artist. Whether she is a painter, sculptor, videographer, of photographer, the medium determines the types of materials that are being used. Practically anything imaginable may be used within all of the distinct branches of visual art.
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Painting
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Painters use paint to express their ideas in a real-life, hands-on way that photography cannot. Paintings are alive. Paint may be applied to any treated surface. All that is required is a few coats of gesso, which is a form of primer designed specifically for paint. Sanding is required between gesso coats. Painters use oil and acrylic paint and gouache. All three have the power to make exquisite works of art. Each is different in its own regard. Watercolor artists paint on specially designed paper with watercolor paint. Painters may also use oil sticks which are sticks made of oil that are used for painting.
Drawing
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Painters must be able to draw well to make quality paintings. Draftspersons use pen and ink, charcoal, oil pastels, markers, chalk, pencil, and colored pencils. Any of these tools may be used together, or individually to make a work of art. Pen and ink are usually bought separately and utilize a special pen. Charcoal is used on larger sheets of paper, usually newsprint for practice, and nicer paper for final renderings. Charcoal may come in a range of colors as well. Sometimes, however, only black is preferred. Artists use markers to fill in color, and they use markers to create exquisite renderings and drawings. Colored chalk is popular sometimes with street artists who create brilliant renderings on sidewalks. Colored pencils must be pressed down upon to make darker renderings, which have more appeal than more lightly shaded drawings. Draftspersons may draw on any surface that is desired. They will draw on cardboard, drawing board, white paper, colored paper, or any surface that is most suitable for the thing which is being drawn.
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Mixed Media
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Mixed Media artists use images, patterns, fabric, paper, plastic, three-dimensional forms, dry media such as the aforementioned drawing materials, and wet media, such as watercolor or ink. Mixed media artists may use just about anything to make a work of art. These artists will attach materials to boards, canvas stretched over a board, or just about any flat or curved surface to make a work of art. Mixed media artists draw from personal experience and other artists to formulate an idea for a work of art. They select materials that relate to the idea that they wish to convey. Sometimes these artists may also apply seemingly unrelated items and let the viewer make associations with the materials. Sometimes the materials are combined merely for aesthetic appeal as well.
Sculpture
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In the context of three-dimensional art, anything goes as far a materials are concerned. Sculptors have made sculptures from everything from car parts to flower petals. Sculptors either assemble or remove material when making sculptures. Sculptors may also cast sculptures in a mold. In a subtractive process, sculptors carve away from materials. Sculptors use wood, soapstone, marble, and anything that may be carved with a chisel or with electric carving tools. When sculptors cast sculptures, they create a mold from rubber, plastic, or plaster. The mold may be filled with resin, bronze, or any material capable of being melted at high temperatures.
Photography/Videography
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Photographers use an array of devices and accessories to create brilliant images. Photographers may select from a vast range of models of cameras from inexpensive to very expensive. Photographers use wide-angle lenses to capture scenes from a great distance. They use light filters to capture just the right glow of light. A range of lenses are available to photographers for specific purposes. Photographers use photoshop to adjust and modify images. Videographers use Adobe Premier to edit, combine, and add sound to video productions. Both use tripods to balance and steady the camera. Lighting kits are used to provide the correct amount of well-placed light to scenes as well.
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