Painting Tools and Techniques

Painting techniques, painting materials and tools. The tools and materials used by the artist are relatively few, with the most important being his paints. Paints contain colored materials that are referred to as pigments. The artist's brush is made from the hairs of animals such as camels or oxen. The first paintings were created over 30,000 years ago in the Chauvet Caves in France and painting techniques have continued to develop from that time forward. Included in modern methods are fresco, tempera, oil painting, acrylics, casein, and watercolors. While each has distinct qualities, the artist typically will choose a method based on his or her specific preferences and on the nature of his or her work. The links included herein relate specifically to painting tools and techniques.