The Power of Pigment

Visual images are an important part of communication. This is demonstrated in early forms of cave paintings. You may view examples of these early messages by visiting your local library and looking up cave art of Lascaux or by logging on to the Web site.

You can create your own pigment and painting similar to the earliest cave painters. Pigment is the part of paint that gives it color. Pigment comes from rocks, minerals, and vegetable matter, which have been ground up. When a liquid, such as water or a special oil, is added to the pigment it becomes paint. You can think of the liquid as a kind of glue, which helps the pigment attach to the surface you are painting on.

You can mix your own paint with things you find in your house

• Gather tea bags, berries, vegetable oil, all-purpose glue, old paintbrushes, heavyweight paper, and a large wooden spoon.
• Soak the teabag in hot water for about five minutes. Different types of tea will give you different shades of color, and the longer you soak the tea bag the darker the color will be. The tea will give you a nice wash that can be used to create a tinted background. Once your paper dries, you can apply more of the tea to make darker marks.
• You can use the berries to create darker, thicker paints. Use the wooden spoon to mash the berries into a thick juice. The skins and seeds can be strained out with a sieve or left in to give your paint texture. Add a little bit of glue and a little bit of oil to your berries and stir, then test it out on your paper. Continue to do this until you come up with a texture you like.
• Once you have all of your paints and washes made, use the brushes to apply your paint to the paper and see what each one does.

If you would like more instruction on creating art, Saturday Morning Art Classes may be for you. This program presented by CCAD provides first graders through twelfth graders the opportunity to explore the visual arts through a variety of experiences. The campus setting lets you discover your own creative abilities, enhancing your expressive potential through a sequence of art experiences that incorporate a broad range of focused exercises using a wide variety of art materials.

For more information on programs for children and youth at CCAD click here or contact the Continuing Education office at 614.222.3248 or e-mail.