Paintings are based on color and tone. Paint consists of colored pigments in a binder such as linseed oil or acrylic, and is applied most commonly with a brush while wet and allowed to dry.
Supports include canvas, wood and paper. These surfaces usually need the application of a ‘ground’ to prepare for painting. Occasionally dry media such as pastels may be referred to as painting when the intent of the work is to imitate the painting characteristics of color and tone, and ignore the ‘drawing’ characteristics of line and simplicity.