The Absence

Painting

Painting is used to convey creative expression. Much like drawing, painting is a visual art form. Brushes, and various tools are used to apply pigment to a hard surface. Throughout history, painting has been used to describe a moment, historical record, political views, emotion and many other areas of the human condition. Paint or pigment has been mixed with oils, egg, thinner, and a variety of other less common additives to give the image qualities such as mood, integrity, depth and adhesion.

Pastel

A crayon made from pure powder pigments and a binder, such as gum or resin. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used in oil paints. Pastels have been used widely since the Renaissance and major painters including Edgar Degas, Marie Cassatt, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso chose this medium as an alternate to oils at various times throughout their careers. Picasso lobbied the French manufacturer, Henri Sennelier, to produce a better grade oil pastel when supplies were scarce during the post-war years in Europe.

Contemporary

Contemporary art encompasses the art of today, produced by living artists. The art of today benefits from all the previous art movements in history as artists work in a wide array of mediums, formats, and styles, while transgressing art forms: music, architecture, video, performance art, living installations, technology.

More about Barbara Rachko

Barbara Rachko is an American contemporary artist and author who divides her time between residences in New York City and Alexandria, VA. She is best known for her pastel-on-sandpaper paintings, her eBook, From Pilot to Painter, and her blog, “Barbara Rachko’s Colored Dust.” Barbara has led an extraordinary, inspiring life. She learned to fly at […]

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