Final answer:
We need canvas, brush, and oil paint to create oil paintings, a sophisticated form of art with a rich history. Oil paint, known for its versatility and depth, allows artists to blend and build up layers for subtle gradations, and the support surface is typically prepared with Gesso to protect the artwork.
Step-by-step explanation:
We need canvas, brush and oil paint to engage in the art of oil painting, which is among the most versatile painting mediums. The use of pigments mixed with a binder like linseed oil dates back to possibly as early as the 7th century, although it became more widespread in Europe during the 15th century.
Brushes typically consist of natural materials such as bamboo, wood or porcelain, with bristles made from selected animal hair. The ink used alongside these brushes would be made from lampblack and binders. When it comes to preparing the support for oil painting, traditionally, artists used a wooden panel or canvas stretched over wooden bars, which was then covered with a protective layer of Gesso—a substance made from chalk, an animal binder (glue), and white pigment—to prevent the oil from seeping into the canvas.
Oil paintings require building up layers upon layers of paint to create deep tones and subtle gradations, as seen in the masterworks of Venetian painters like Titian and Giorgione. Notably, these painters sometimes added ground-up glass to their pigments to enhance light reflection.
Overall, the oil painting process is a sophisticated dance of technique, medium, and support surface, allowing artists to materialize their vision onto a physical medium using brushes, pallets, and their understanding of color and texture.