The Medium is the Message

No we aren't having a seance. The media of art is the material or technique an artist uses to produce a work of art. Here's a few of the most commonly used media:

• Acrylic - a synthetic paint that came into popular use in the 1940's. It has great versatility and quick drying time so it is a favorite among many artists.
• Bas Relief - A French term meaning "low raised work." It is a type of sculpture meant to be viewed from only one side.
• Batik - A way of dying cloth using removable wax to repel the dye on areas of the cloth where it is not wanted. Originated in Indonesia, but has been produced in parts of Africa for centuries.
• Collagraph - A print made from a low-relief collage.
• Charcoal - Compressed burnt wood use for drawing.
• Engraving - An intaglio print made by cutting slices of metal out of a plate.
• Etching - An intaglio prints produced by using acid to cut line into a metal plate.
• Gouache - A heavy, opaque watercolor paint producing a stronger color than regular watercolor. Also used to denote a painting made with this type of paint.
• Impasto - A thick application of paint or deep brushstrokes usually created with oil paint.
• Intaglio - Collective term for several graphic processes in which prints are made from ink trapped in the grooves of an incised (usually metal) plate.
• Linoleum Cut (Linocut) - A linoleum block or plate used for relief printing. It is cut much the same as a woodcut but the image is softer and without grain. Also refers to a print made by this method.
• Mixed-Media Painting - Produced by combining two or more media.

"What a Relief?"

Wood has existed for thousands of years and wood reliefs (woodcuts) are the oldest known printing method. It is believed that the Egyptians were the first to carve lines into wood blocks and use them for textile stamping. The earliest playing cards were printed from woodcuts. European woodcuts can be traced back to around 1400. The earliest book illustrations were printed by woodcuts. The Japanese have been masters of woodblock printing for centuries.

If you have ever cut a potato to make a raised design, inked it and stamped it; you have done relief printing. To create a woodcut the artist takes a block of wood that has been cut along the length of the tree. The finer the grain of the wood, the finer the lines will be on the finished piece. The artist cuts away all parts that are not intended to be part of the design. Small knives or gouges are used for the cutting. When the artist is done, the design stands out in relief from the cut out background. The surface of the block is then inked, paper is placed over the plate and pressure is applied to transfer the ink to the paper. Woodcuts will usually have a solid black outline around the edge, this is the uncut wood around the edge of the block. Simple woodcuts are easy to identify. They have strong, traditionally black, lines on white. If you look closely the lines will be rather coarse and irregular; sometimes you can almost see the texture of the wood that has been gouged away. All relief printing has a "stamped" look.

Another woodcut technique is called wood engraving. Do not confuse this with fine engraving onto a metal plate. Wood engraving is another relief method created by using burins to achieve white lines against a black background. This technique was used for printing in the mid eighteenth century and was often done in several colors. In the nineteenth century, this was the primary means of illustrating books for children.