Pigments are a crucial component of the art media used to create visual masterpieces. They are powdered substances that add color or alter visual appearance, and they are insoluble in water or other mediums. In contrast, dyes are colored substances that dissolve or go into solution at some stage in their use. Pigments are often organic compounds, while dyes are frequently inorganic....
The Art Media Pigment
Pigments are a crucial component of the art media used to create visual masterpieces. They are powdered substances that add color or alter visual appearance, and they are insoluble in water or other mediums. In contrast, dyes are colored substances that dissolve or go into solution at some stage in their use. Pigments are often organic compounds, while dyes are frequently inorganic.
Historical Significance
Pigments have been used since prehistoric times for aesthetic purposes such as body decoration and painting. Early humans used paint made from ochre, a mineral that comes in various shades of red, yellow, and brown. Lapis lazuli, a deep-blue gemstone found in Afghanistan, was another prized pigment used to create the color ultramarine. Minerals and clays often bear the name of the city or region where they were originally mined, such as raw sienna and burnt sienna from Siena, Italy, and raw umber and burnt umber from Umbria.
Types of Pigments
There are two main types of pigments: inorganic and organic. Inorganic pigments are made from minerals and clays, while organic pigments are derived from plants, animals, or synthetic sources. Some common examples of inorganic pigments include titanium dioxide (white), iron oxide (red, yellow, brown), and chromium oxide (green). Organic pigments include alizarin crimson (red), quinacridone magenta (magenta), and phthalo blue (blue).
Economic Impact
The global pigment industry was valued at $30 billion in 2018. The most valuable color is Ferrari red, which is worth $300 million each year. Titanium dioxide, used to enhance the white brightness of many products, is valued at $13.2 billion per year.
Physical Principles
The color of pigments arises because they absorb only certain wavelengths of visible light. The bonding properties of the material determine the wavelength and efficiency of light absorption. Light of other wavelengths are reflected or scattered, and the reflected light spectrum defines the color that we observe. The appearance of pigments is sensitive to the source light. Sunlight has a high color temperature and a fairly uniform spectrum, while artificial light sources are less uniform.
Famous Pigment-Based Artworks
Some famous artworks created using pigments include:
- Bowl by Olowe Of Ise (41 x 81 cm, Native Art, Pigment)
- Fresh wind by Dayou Lu (50 x 50 cm, Shanghai Museum (Shanghai, China), Pigment)
- Hazy moon by Dayou Lu (50 x 50 cm, Shanghai Museum (Shanghai, China), Pigment)
- Hazy moon by Dayou Lu (65 x 45 cm, Shanghai Museum (Shanghai, China), Pigment)
- Hazy moon by Dayou Lu (50 x 50 cm, Shanghai Museum (Shanghai, China), Pigment)
These artworks showcase the vibrant and opaque colors that can be achieved using pigments.
Famous Artists Known for Using Pigments
Some famous artists known for using pigments in their work include:
Resnick was an American artist noted for abstract paintings that coupled scale with density of incident. It was not uncommon for some of the largest paintings to weigh in excess three hundred pounds, almost all of it pigment. He had a long and varied career, lasting about sixty-five years. He produced at least eight hundred canvases during his lifetime.
Conclusion
Pigments are an essential component of the art media used to create visual masterpieces. They have been used since prehistoric times and continue to be a popular choice for artists today due to their opaque and vibrant colors. The global pigment industry is valued at $30 billion, with titanium dioxide and Ferrari red being the most valuable components. Understanding the physical principles of pigments can help artists create more vibrant and visually appealing artwork.