Oil paintings are works of art created by combining colors with a
drying oil medium. The most frequently used medium is the linseed oil
although walnut oil, poppy seed oil and safflower oil are also utilized.
Choice of oil depends on its effects on the pigments, whether they dry
faster or cause yellowish discolorations. The consistency of the oil
paints may differ depending on the drying oil.
According to Brian
Thomas, he considered the development of Western oil painting occurred
in four overlapping phases - line design, form design, tone design and
color design. The line design was based on the association among
outlines and shapes, which became a popular trend during the end of the
Roman Empire and the emergence of the Renaissance period. Color
alterations allowed outlines to be accentuated. Artists typically used
distant and typecast symbols in their oil paintings. These symbols
appeared vague to integrate a religious impression. Notable artists of
the line design included Holbein and Jan van Eyck.
The form design
included the three-dimensional aspect in oil paintings. The artworks
are both appealing and evocative. Painters at this stage gained a better
understanding of space and learned to combine them harmoniously.
Well-known artists involved Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo.
Michelangelo expressed his work by silhouetting the key form with
contrasting tones. The models of his artwork are often dressed in
swinging drapes with their muscles prominent. By learning from other
artists, Raphael was able to master the relationship of figures to each
other. Leonardo utilized art to understand how ordinary items are
constructed, and to determine how color is altered with various light
gradations.
Tone design focused on shade and light as well as the
sharpness of the oil paintings. There wasn't much importance put on
colors. Pigments were simply used for decorative purposes. Tones were
believed to livens up the paintings more. Artists such as Goya and
Leonardo made the tone technique popular. Goya incorporated this design
into his work by utilizing a dry brush and knife. Leonardo emphasized
tones in his famous work, the Mona Lisa.
The last developmental
stage of Western oil painting is the color design. Color design focused
on creating harmony between warm and cold hues and lessened the
intensity of tones. The pioneers of this technique were the English
which began in the early 19th century. Distinguished painters included
Constable, Turner, Cezanne and Van Gogh. Turner displayed impressive
pragmatism in color, tone and drawing. Turner was able to create works
of art under varied weather settings. It revealed his cognizance of oil
paints and flowing creativity. Cezanne formed a spiritual impression on
nature. Instead of experimenting with tone, he explored the
possibilities of different gradations of color. Van Gogh exhibited the
power of nature by using intense colors and tense strokes.
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Oil paintings allowed the development of Western art in line, form, tone and
color designs. Although these designs are not incorporated in today's
artworks, these allowed contemporary artists to develop innovative
techniques in their paintings; thus, displaying art's continuous
evolution.