Watercolors: From Time And Beyond



Many of us became really conscious about the proper use of watercolor when we reached preschool. It was a prerogative for students to bring various art materials and one of them being watercolors. Alongside with it came crayons, thick pencils and colorful erasers. Truly, our childhood days were filled with vivid colors and pictures. However, amidst all these childhood experiences, the watercolor itself has a colorful history to share.

Watercolor is used both as a medium and a method: as a medium for it is utilized as a material for painting in different styles such as portraits and landscape paintings; and as a method because it was and up until now an ongoing process wherein a product of art is created through the usage of the medium itself. Through the name itself, watercolors would not work without of course water. Hand in hand these two must always be present in order to teach and learn the method.

The manipulation of watercolor in society dates back from as early as the paleolithic era wherein watercolor-based drawings were then seen in caves of Europe. These drawings were 32,000 years in age and are not merely decorations of the caves but were discovered to be portraits of an ongoing habitation of people who thrived back then. Through drawing by watercolor, historians were able to uncover the livelihood and mysteries of people in the past. It was also used as manuscript illuminations for the Egyptians. However its great launched begun during the Renaissance when Albrecht Durer during the 15th and the 16th century crafted paintings using the medium with themes like botanical and wildlife landscapes. Durer was considered as one of the earliest exponents of watercolor as a medium. It even led to the development of a school of watercolor painting in Germany which was spearheaded by Hans Bol which was also known as a personality in watercolor paintings during the Durer Renaissance.

Mostly, watercolor operation was taught during the Baroque period and were commonly used by easel painters who make sketches and cartoons. The height of watercolor capitalization however, was through the production of wildlife and botanical paintings in the 19th century. The accuracy and the ability of the medium to condense and interpret wildlife and botanical ventures are still present today as variables to illustrate scientific and museum publications.

It was not only in Europe however where the adoption of watercolors dominated. It also reached England in the 18th century and was commonly used among the aristocrats and the elites. It was an art for the upper class of the English society. Watercolor was noted as a good education especially for women in the community. It also even helped the different people in the workforce such as mapmakers, surveyors, architects and engineers. They use watercolors to draw terrains and other geological data and public projects which consequently led to the hunt of Òtopographical paintersÓ which made a breakthrough of high opportunities for the said job. Adding to that, watercolor based drawings were included in publications and manuscripts which eventually directed the real growth of the medium. In America, on the other hand, watercolor only became famous in the middle of the 19th century. From America, it then disseminated throughout the neighboring countries.

From mainly a combination of synthetic or natural pigments, a binder such as arabic gum, additives and a solvent, commenced the dawn of the era of watercolors. Though it may seem only as a simple medium, it has evolved into a method of art that launched a change in history. Throughout the world, the popularization of watercolor saw the different civilizations of human history. Indeed, its colors has painted the world in the past, now and from time and beyond.


Comments

I'm a great lover of art but galleries and museums are most certainly not the new churches. Can you imagine the Tate Modern setting up soup kitchens for the homeless?
http://www.coachcanadaoutlets.com
Cheap Coach handbags - By Cheap Coach handbags - Homepage
30th March 2012 - 11:01pm

These are now made luxurious and affordable ed hardy sunglasses to reach out to every budget and range. You can just enjoy them by ordering oakley sale online where you get the complete satisfaction and genuine quality at best possible rates.
oakley sale - By sandy - Homepage
24th April 2012 - 10:47pm

This is really my very first time here, great looking blog. I discovered so many interesting things inside your blog especially its discussion.
Discount Bags - By Cheap Handbags - Homepage
8th May 2012 - 3:24am

hey!you got be good writer .
Tory Burch Outlet - By Tory Burch Outlet - Homepage
10th May 2012 - 3:03am

*Name:
*Email:
Website URL:
Title / Subject:
Hide my email
*Comments:
*
 



Menu


My Articles






My Articles


Watercolors And Arts For Children
... artistic expressions they could explore. One of them ...

Mixing Watercolors: A Simple Guide For The Serious Artist
... water 1 part of glycerin Put the gum in and pour the ...

The Art And Science Of Mixing Watercolors
... the same secondary color. On the other hand, the more ...

Watercolors: How To Start Working With Them
... brush. Get a good start set of colors - most sets follow ...



Related Videos:

Anya

Related News:

 
Valley Hospital's art gallery features watercolors and photos - NorthJersey.com

    

NorthJersey.com

Valley Hospital's art gallery features watercolors and photos
NorthJersey.com
BY EILEEN LA FORGIA The May exhibit at the Valley Hospital Art Gallery features watercolors by Bonnie Kraft Heilman and photography by Nancy Ann Merena. Heilman's theme is "Celebrate the Seasons Through the Eyes of an Artist.




Museum unveils watercolor from Van Gogh's youth - CBS News

    

CBS News

Museum unveils watercolor from Van Gogh's youth
CBS News
"The Scream" up for auction At a time when the artist was still honing his skills in perspective, anatomy and proportion using pen and pencil sketches, the watercolor was a bolt from the blue, although its muted tones are still a far cry from the ...

and more »