Wood’s Effect on Art

Art can be found in every stage or event in history. It's the gateway to expressing emotions. It can be used as an escape from reality or in protest of events unfolding around them. Now, you may be asking, how does this have anything to do with wood or woodworking? Here are five fun facts about art and how wood has contributed to it.

Woodcarving of Dongyang

Woodcarving can be dated back to early civilization, used for religious purposes. This art form attracted many artists because of how easily available it was and because wood is easy to carve into. Throughout history, the art of woodcarving became more abstract rather than people and religious figures.

14th Century Panel Painting by Master of

Vyšší Brod

Before canvases were invented and popularized, wood panels were used for paintings such as this one. Panel painting was commonly used from the 14th century and earlier. The most frequently used wood type was oak for its rigidity and stability.

Ethiopian Cowhide Oil Painting

The surface created after paneling was the use of vellum or cowhide to create art. The cowhide was removed from the animal, cleaned and bleached before stretching the material onto a wood frame.

Canvas Oil Painting by Vincent Van Gogh

During the 16th century, canvases made from flex or hemp were created built with wooden frames. And as time progressed, cotton canvases were manufactured. Both linen and cotton canvases are continuously used today.

Wooden Paintbrushes

The original paintbrush was animal hair attached to a stick. Animal hair is still considered one of the best quality brushes to date. The process of manufacturing a paintbrush used to be a tedious job before the 18th century, having to glue each hair onto the wooden handle. Now, machines are the most common way to make paintbrushes.

Art can be many different forms; all it takes is one's imagination. As shown above, art and wood have blended beautifully throughout history around the world. We, at Schneller&co. hope you enjoyed this week's blog post and wish you all a fantastic day!! Stay safe and wash your hands!!