Painting is the practice of applying pigment suspended in a carrier (or medium) and a binding agent (a glue) to a surface (support) such as paper, canvas or a wall. This is done by a painter; this term is used especially if this is his or her profession. Humans have been painting for about 6 times as long as they have been using written language.
Drawing, by comparison, is the process of making marks on a surface by applying pressure from or moving a tool on the surface.
Painting is also the utilitarian painting of objects and buildings. This is often done to provide a protective coating or for aesthetic reasons. One possible process for decorative painting of the walls of a room is found in Work breakdown structure.
More specifically this article is about the painting of a surface for artistic reasons, considered by many to be among the most important of the art forms.
Today, many of the world's most recognized works of art, such as the Mona Lisa, are paintings. There exists some slight controversy as to whether or not works of art produced in non-traditional ways, or with non-traditional materials, can properly be called paintings. In a general sense artists using sound, light, fireworks, ink-jet pigment, computer monitor pixels and even pastel or pencil all have the same intentions as the more expected water, oil, gouache or egg tempera painters. The resulting work of art is often referred to as a painting.
Painting styles can be characterized by the method of application (loose or tight) or by referring to the art movement that most closely matches the predominant characteristics that the painting expresses. They include:
Bozzle.com Basic information on painting, wallpapering and home decorating. Includes tips, tricks of the trade, training, and troubleshooting. http://www.bozzle.com
PaintIdeas.com Paint related crafts and projects. It provides step by step instructions and a material list for each project. http://www.paintideas.com
Painting Your House . info Interior and exterior painting techniques, safety, and repairs. http://paintingyourhouse.info
SoYouWanna.com: Paint a Room? How-to information on painting and other aspects of home improvement. http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/paintroom/paintroom.html
Calvert Painting Company Guide details paint failures and why they happen, and how to make paint last longer. Learn about surfaces, color, stains, caulk, and maintenance. http://calpaint.home.mindspring.com/
Benjamin Moore Paints: Homeowner How-To's Tutorials for several painting projects, including preparation, priming, cleaning up, decorative finishes, and a problem solver. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_pg2art.asp?L=owner&K=howto&N=how&art=1.3
PPG Paint University Painting basics: Including types of paint, surface preparation brushes and rollers, health and safety. http://www.ppg.com/ppgaf/etraining/index.htm
Sutherlands Golden Glow and Silver Glow Paint Products Small collection of articles with an emphasis on optimizing surface and environmental conditions before painting. http://www.goldenglowpaints.com/Article_TOC.htm
Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute Includes causes and solutions for common failures, recommendations for painting of different surfaces, decorative techniques, FAQs, glossary, description of ingredients of paint, and color charts. http://www.paintquality.com/
Painters Chat Room Home painting forum featuring articles, information, chat and discussions forum, of professional painting tips. http://www.painterschatroom.com/
Expert Home Advice Quick tips and advice for home painting, staining, renovations, repairs and remodeling. http://www.experthomeadvice.com/painting-staining/index.html
Rodda Paint Company Manufacturer provides how-to tips on decorative painting, measuring windows, paint application, interior surface preparation, exterior surface preparation and a paint calculator. http://www.roddapaint.com/tips_application.asp
Pioneer Thinking - Home Painting Tips Information and tips on home painting projects. Includes choosing color tips as well as project paint types. http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ara-propaint.html
Behr Paint Manufacture's How to Guides How to tips from Behr Paints, manufacturer of paints, stains and varnishes for home improvement projects. http://www.behr.com/behrx/expert/index.jsp?subnav=
Cosmos Lac - Spray Painting How To: Information on surface preparation and guide to spray painting. http://www.cosmoslac.com/eng/painting.asp
