Art & antiques with Dr Lori

The art world can be a mysterious one. If you learn a little bit about the various media and materials used, you can take some of the mystery out of collecting art. Here are some easy art terms to aid the novice:

Paint made with natural oils (linseed, walnut, and so on) used as a binder with the colour or pigment. Oil paint can be applied on to canvas, paper, wood panel, or linen support.

A synthetic (not natural) resin which dries faster than oil paint and binds the resin with the colour or pigment.

An age-old water-based paint using egg yolks as a binding agent. American master Andrew Wyeth was best known for reviving this Renaissance

Oil:

Acrylic:

Tempera:

technique during the 1900s.

Similar to gouache, but without the addition of gum. Water is mixed with ground colour or pigment. The result is a lighter-weight surface texture on paper.

Watercolour:

Similar to watercolour, but with the addition of gum and water to the ground colour or pigment. The result is a heavier surface texture on paper.

When it comes to collecting works of art, the material or medium matters but it is not the only aspect that will impact on market interest, collectability and value.

Gouache:

A watercolour can be as costly and as sought-after as an oil on canvas, depending on the work’s artist, age, condition, subject matter, quality, and other factors.

While oil paintings are most traditional and one of the oldest methods used by studio artists, acrylic has become widely accepted by collectors of 20th century paintings and contemporary artists.

Acrylic paint enjoyed widespread use in the late 1900s and continues to be used today by artists internationally.

Tempera paint dates to the Renaissance period (1400s) and before. It was commonly applied to wooden panels and board, and later on canvas and linen supports, too.

Oil paints were introduced in the early 1500s and were used with impressive results by the northern European artists of the time.

Watercolour and gouache are difficult to master but attract many artists and collectors. The delicacy with which these compositions are executed remain of interest to many collectors in various subjects.

Whatever medium you collect, be sure to review the artist’s credentials, sales records, condition, exhibition record (museum status) and subject matter as you build your collection.

Dr Lori Verderame is the expert appraiser on the TV show AuctionKings on the Discovery channel. Her website isDrLoriV.com.