From history to the avant-garde
A unique artistic journey
Find out more about the world of creativity and art in this guide. Different artistic movements, emblematic works of art, contemporary artists, drawing techniques and tools… Discover everything you need to know about the world of art.
Oil painting
Oil painting is a technique based on a drying oil, using usually linseed oil.
Chalk paints
Chalk paint is made from a mixture of acrylic paint and chalk. It is ideal for decorative art.
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is made from natural or synthetic pigments and a binder (water or resin).
Watercolour:
the landscape painter's art
Watercolour is a highly effective technique for expressing the beauty of nature and the landscape.
Magic watercolour
Dive into the enchanting world of watercolour painting
Also known as “watercolour painting”, watercolour is one of the most popular techniques among painters. But it is also renowned as a paint for beginners because of its ease of use and lightness. As its name suggests, watercolour painting is a creation based on ground pigments mixed with glue and water. It is painted on paper, generally on dry, preferably white, canson paper. It is also known as “traveller’s painting”, because it can be done anywhere, with very little equipment: a brush, a sheet of paper and some paint.
Infinite shades
Express yourself with ink painting
Ink painting is one of the most recent painting techniques in the history of art. It is mainly used in modern and contemporary art. It consists of a pigment mixed with an acrylic binder. Like acrylic, it is processed with water. It has the advantage of drying easily. Similarly, once it has dried, it is perfectly impregnated with the surface on which it is applied, so there is no risk of it bleeding, even when exposed to light. Because of its hardness, it is preferable to use it with synthetic brushes. Synthetic brushes are more durable and resistant.
Ink paint, ideal for portraits.
Art in everyday life
Artworks that bring beauty to your life
Liberty Guiding the People by Eugène Delacroix
Exhibited at the Galerie d’Art du Luxembourg, then at the Louvre, this painting was created in 1830, and was inspired by the revolution of the Trois Glorieuses.
The Great Wave of Kanagawa by Hokusai
This is a woodcut depicting the wave and Mount Fuji. Produced in 1831, it is one of Hokusai’s greatest creations.
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso
One of the greatest works of art of all time, this painting was created by Picasso in 1907. As its name suggests, it depicts silhouettes of naked young women.
The medium
Canvas, cardboard, wood, paper…. There are many surfaces on which you can draw your art.
Brushes and knives
Cat’s tongue brush, round brush, brush, natural or synthetic fibre… Discover all the different types of brushes and knives for painting.
Colour tubes
When choosing your colour tube, you need to take into account certain criteria such as the degree of opacity, the type of pigments used, the degree of fluidity, etc.
The easel
The easel is an essential tool for any artist who wants to show off their work. It is a support for the drawing frame, whether it is made out of canvas, cardboard or paper.
Modern abstract painting
Contemporary wall canvases
Looking for a painting?
Visit an art gallery
Art galleries often consists of a variety of works by established and emerging artists, allowing you to explore different artistic styles and movements. You can talk to the gallery owners to find out more about the paintings, the artists and the prices. Feel free to drop in at ESTADES art gallery. Specialising in modern figurative art, this gallery exhibits works by painters from 1950 to the present day.
The play of light and shadow
Master the painting art of chiaroscuro
Are you fascinated by the world of painting? Then you really shouldn’t miss out on chiaroscuro. Derived from two words, “chiaro” meaning light and “scuro” meaning dark, this is an artistic movement that combines light and dark. It is often recognised for its dark, provocative, sensual and even arousing character, dealing with somewhat taboo subjects. In terms of colour, we prefer dark and sombre shades, with a touch of light to bring out the lighter side.