When the first sign of man appeared upon the Earth, there was a need for a way to express himself. Grunting, throwing rocks, growling, stomping, and dragging people around by their hair was just not going to work. Through his frustration, and much trial and error, man finally figured out what he was going to do, in order to get his point across. He drew a line in the sand, and made the first picture. The art materials used were primitive but, they made a break through for what we use today.
There was no written word when man made his presence in this world. In order for people to try to explain the way they were feeling, someone got the bright idea to paint pictures upon the interiors of caves, and cliffs. The cliffs and caves became the very first art museums. It is quite interesting what types of materials were used to create these beginning pieces of symbolization.
Charcoal was most likely the primary used tool, for wood was utilized daily for cooking, staying warm, and keeping wild animals at bay. Of course, wood is where charcoal has its start. Probably, by accident, it happened that someone might have moved a piece of burnt wood, and scraped it against a stone. Noticing that this would work for drawings, a new hobby was created. Everyone was excited about showing their talents!
All of a sudden, she was exploring all kinds of avenues. She tried numerous types of mortars to get the charcoal to adhere such as: spit, dung, urine, egg whites, blood, animal fat, juices from plants, bone marrow, and clays. She tested berries, grasses, flowers, and ground stones to make beautiful concoctions that would stick admirably to her walls.
After a while, she noticed that her fingers would become very sore from applying the mixtures to her walls. With her mind racing, she tried leaves, animal hair, her own hair, sticks, moss, bones, and grass to distribute the liquid upon her stone interior. Do you realize how much work this little woman went through in order to give us what tools we have today?
Viewing pictures upon cave walls was wonderful but, what if you wanted to share your drawings with others who lived in distant lands? Yes, rocks could be decorated, and taken with you but, what if your rendition was a little too heavy? Who in the world would want to help you carry it around?
Before paper was invented, there were diversified ways to transplant many types of representations. Animal skins, tree bark, and large leaves were used as canvasses to get the sketches from one place to another. It was realized that bark and leaves had a tendency to deteriorate very quickly. After some experimentation a method was applied using such natural products as cotton, wood, and flax to make a fibrous liquid “puree” which could then be strained, dried, and eventually used as a means to carry paintings.
The next time you decide to paint, or sketch a picture, think about those who came up with the idea for all the art materials available in the world. Since you were blessed to be born in this era, you only have to purchase the items from your local hobby store. Now, all you have to do is create!
Don’t shy away from an enjoyable experience because of the cost of art supplies online. It is true, most art supplies can be pretty pricey. Do your own research and follow expert guidance. This is a good idea to do when you are looking for artist easels, canvas, and other items online.