Final answer:
The rolling paint brush-like tool is commonly used in the arts for painting and ink applications, with its use spanning a variety of techniques and historical applications. Various materials for brushes and inks have been utilized across cultures, often lending to unique styles and effects in artwork.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tool that looks like a rolling paint brush is typically used in painting and ink application. In art, there is a rich history of using various tools for applying pigments to surfaces, as artists are continually innovating to create new textures and effects. For example, ordinary brushes, sticks, and tools like basting syringes have been repurposed for artistic applications. Hardened brushes and the creative approach of painting from all directions have given rise to techniques such as all-over painting, which is a method that allows artists to work on a canvas from multiple angles. The result is a unique style that can be seen in the work of some artists from various periods of art history.
In traditional brush and ink drawing, the quality of the brush is paramount. Brushes can be made from a variety of materials, such as bamboo, wood, porcelain, bone, or feathers, with the bristles often crafted from carefully selected animal hair. The ink would traditionally be made by mixing lampblack and binders, or by using iron gall ink created from tannic acids and iron salts from vegetables. Artists use these brushes with dexterity to create variations in line width and texture, which is especially prevalent in Eastern traditions of brush and ink art.
More unconventional mediums and methods, like using motor oil or cooking oil in a flat tray for a unique effect, highlight the extensive array of tools that can be adopted by artists. Whether using a syringe, as noted in ancient Greek techniques for creating fine lines similar to cake decoration, dip pens for transferring ink, or textured paintbrushes to create specific visual effects, skilled artists deploy a variety of techniques, each chosen for the particular feeling or image they aim to evoke.