Contemporary

Art:
two dimensional media
 Two dimensional media
Artists find ways to express themselves with almost anything available. It is a stamp of their creativity to
make extraordinary images and objects from various but fairly ordinary materials.

From charcoal, paper and thread to paint, ink and found objects like leaves, artists continue to search for
ways to construct and deliver their message.

In their exploration, many artist will opt for the two – dimensional media as one of the ways to express
their thoughts and ideas. The use of these medium may prove to be challenging especially for new artist. His
genius, however,in the manipulation of the material will create effects that will leave in this audience a sense
of awe and heighten in them an appreciation fo the arts and seemingly man’s litmitless capabilities.

Through the centuries, artists have discovered and developed materials from many sources and have
marveled at the beauty of its effects on a flat surface. There was even a time when artist resort into making
their own medium which now is used to authenticate his work and seal his legacy as a two- dimensional
artist.

Artist’ style expressed in two – dimensional art varies in the surface that they use; the paints that they
choose and the technique the employ to manipulate the materials.Part 1 then focuses on media for two –
dimensional art: the surface, paints and various tehniques of manipulation. The goal is not only to inform but
to educate the learner on the basics of two – dimensional art form
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 Hello!

Kert Stephen A.Go Juliet Villanueva Solis Vilma Albert

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 LESSON 1: SUPPORT AND
OTHER MATERIALS
An Artwork is described as two – dimensional if it has length and width.
Two – dimensional artworks are flat. Although some works give 3D effect, this
effect on flat surface is only an illusion of depth used by the artists. 2D art
works are usually composed of two parts: the support of the surface (paper,
canvas. Wood) an the drawing medium (pencil, chalk, charcoal) or the paints
(oil acrylic, watercolor).
The use of surfaces or support varies depending on the drawing medium
or the paint that is used. It is important to keep in mind is that the physical
characteristic of the surface (also called the ground) should be able to
“support” the medium it holds. The following are brief descriptions of the
different surfaces used in
two – dimensional art

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 paper
This is the most popular
surfaces used for 2D artwork. For
the young and the old, anywhere
you go,paper is always available
in various sizes, thickness,
textures and colors. Paper is an
organic medium made from
cellulose pulp derived mainly from
wood, certain grasses and linen
rags. I is processed into flexible
sheets or rolls. There are different
medium – drawings or paintings.
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 Different kinds of paper support
•Laid Paper. Paper processed with a pattern of parallel lines created by the wires of the mold used for
production. Some have pronounced surface texture suitable for sketching with paste,charcoal and soft pencil.

•Textured Pastel , Charcoal, and Craft Paper. This type has fine irregular texture pressed into the
surface during the process of its manufacture . This paper is good for pastel and charcoal and can be used for
layering but not for heavy layering.

•Wove Paper. This is paper made on a woven wire ‘cloth’ like a fine sieve. The surface created is fine
and smooth with no evidence of texture. This is best for ink drawing and realist pencil drawing.

•Rough Grained Paper. This type has a ‘bumpy’ surface. This is a favorite of watercolor artists. The tiny
pits in the paper allows paint to pool in heavy wash while in dry wash, it leaves tiny dots of white that
contributes to that characteristic effect of the whole work.

•Medium Paper. This paper has fine grain which can look subtle when shadling with a sharpened
pencil.

•Smooth- Hot Press. This tpe of paper has been hot rolled of pressed during production create a very
smooth, flat surface. This type allows the drawing of very fine detail without bumps or texture showing up.
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 Different kinds of paper support
Generally, the types of paper may fall under hot – pressed (HP) which are smooth, cold-
pressed which has moderate texture and rough Which has the most pronounced tooth. For choosing
the best paper support. An artist should consider the type of paper that is going to be used; the
weight or thickness of the paper(water particurly causes the sheets to expand) and the quality of the
fibers used in making the paper (the finest papers are made form line rags).

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 Canvas
This is made of a closely woven, heavy cloth of cotton, hemp or linen onto which painting is
done usually in oils. Most ready-made canvases are already primed with acrylic gesso. Gesso is a
generic term that is used for the initial coat applied to a support before it is painted on. The purpose of
priming the support is to protect it from the paint. The gesson dries, it creates a matt, gritty surface that
provides adhesion for the paint. For a smoother finish, the surface may be sanded.

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 wood
This support is known as hardboard which is a board or panel that is made from wood. The
advantages of wood is it offers a more rigid surface that results in less cracking in the paint. Softwoods are
not suitable for painting because they contain excess resin that cause the paint to crack.Below are the kinds
of wood ideal for support in art:

•Masonite. This wood is a trademarked brand name of a particular type of board made
from wood fibers and glue (resin) that is molded into a flat board.

•Plywood. This is made from veneers which are thin layers of slices of wood glued
together.
Plywood is industrially produced and can be a made from local hardwoods or soft woods.

•Laminated Board. This has mic film on its surface to give it resistance and strength.

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 Wall
This support traditionally may be made of
stone. Recently, however,the walls for painting
murals are made of concreate. Before starting the
mural project, the wall should be carefully
inspected for cracks,molds,dirt,wax,oil,or grease. If
any of these are found, clean the wall throughly
with mild soap solution such as TSP Cleanser
(trisodium phosphate). It should be painted with
acrylic primer to make sure that the paint will stick
to the wall.
For two - dimensional art, the support or
surface is just one important part of the whole art
experince. Another factor to be knowlegeable
about is the drawing medium and the type of brush
to be used for applying the paint to the support.
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 charcoal
This is an organic material from burnt wood. Charcoal can came in two forms: vone charcoal and
compressed charcoal. Charcoal was said to be one of the easiest media to learn. Mistakes made in
charcoal can be fixed and reworked. Charcoal goes on the support easily and can be easily be blended.

•Vine charcoal comes in thin sticks and is easy to blend and erase. A variety effects
can be created with vine charcoal. A piece of vine charcoal used on its side can create
different broad strokes depending on its size and the amount of pressure that is use in putting
the charcoal to the surafce.

•Compressed charcoal is made up of lose charcoal pressed into stick.It creates a much
darker black than vine charcoal and can be used on its own or blended with vine charcoal. It
comes in squre sticks or in pencil form and are softer than the round ones.

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 graphite
Graphite Pencils. This medium is
easy to use and not as messy as charcoal.
2B,4B,6B and ebony pencils result in a
range of different tones. The higher B
number the softer the lead and the darker
the line or tone.

brush
The main function of a brush is to
transfer paint mixture to the surface. A
common brush is made up of a tuft of hair(
usually animal hair) fastened to a handle
with a ferrule. Brushes can be classified
by the hair type and shape.

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 Classification of brushes by hair type
A. Bristle brush This is use for thickly prepared paints and are capable of spreading paints in
impasto consistencies.Its characteristics stiffness, on the other hand, can damage transparent watercolor
because the scrubbing action tend to loosen the pigment

B. Sable Brush This brush is known for its resiliency and cause less damage than a bristle brush.
Sable brushes can also hold a good amount of pigment and water. These brushes are more for watercolor
projects. The best Sables are from a certain species of Siberian mink however, substituted squirrel hair or
camel hair for the endangered mink.

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 Brush classification by shape (basic)
A. Dome Shaped Brush This also known as the wash brush/sky brush. It covers more areas and
primarily used for painting skies.

B. Pointed Brushes This are particularly used for making linear markings.
C. Flat Brush This is usually ideal for making broad strokes.

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 Brush size
Brush Size The sizes of the brushes are coded in numeric designations from 000 to 8 in the French
Scale and from 0 to 12 in the Standard English Scale. Artist should learn how to compare brushes by
checking on their weights and how it feels like in the hand. Beginners are advised not to buy packages sets
of brushes and paints. For better quality and long-lasting products.

Oriental Brushes These brushes differ from the brushes used in the West both in the materials used
and in appearance. The Tuft is usually of deer hair, fox hair, hog bristle, goat hair, and wool

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 Multiple Choice: Read the
statements and write the letter of
the correct answer
Let’s start with the
first set of slides
 Multiple Choice: Read the statements and
write the letter of the correct answer.

1. The shape of the brush 2. The kind of paper support

that is primarily used for ideal for charcoal work.
washes and painting skies. a. Hot-pressed paper
a. Dome-shaped brush b. medium paper
b. Oriental brush c. rough paper
c. pointed brush d. flat brush d. wove paper

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 Multiple Choice: Read the statements and
write the letter of the correct answer.

3. The kind of paper ideal 4. The canvas is an ideal

for detailed work. support for

a. Hot-pressed paper
b. medium paper a. charcoal
c. rough paper b. watercolor
d. wove paper c. oil paints
d. graphite pencil

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 Multiple Choice: Read the statements and
write the letter of the correct answer.
5. Wood support made from 6. Wood support that has
wood fibers and glue and mica film on its surface for
molded into a flat board. resistance and strength

a. Plywood a. Plywood
b. Masonite Board b. Masonite board
c. laminated wood c. laminated wood
d. ply board d. ply board

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 Multiple Choice: Read the statements and
write the letter of the correct answer.
7. Canvases are primed with 8. The wall for aa mural art should be
gesso because inspected because
a. The canvas is initially a. The presence of dirt and grease will
dirty affect the paint
b. The paint attaches itself to b. Cracks on the wall cause damage to
the gesso the work
c. The canvas needs extra c. The presence of molds will destroy
durability the paint
d. All of the above d. All of the above

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 Multiple Choice: Read the statements and
write the letter of the correct answer.
9. This is considered as the 10. This brush is not ideal for
best type of brushes for it watercolor because the rubbing motion
can hold a lot of pigmented will loosen the pigment.
and water
a. Bristle brushes a. Bristle Brush
b. Sable brushes b. Sable brush
c. Oriental brushes c. Oriental Brush

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 Ty for listening

Kert Stephen A.Go Juliet Villanueva Solis Vilma Albert

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