I am very much an admirer of Abstract art and have actually made a few pieces to show my art teacher back when I was in High school. Would it be easier to use enamel paints rather than acrylic? Or would it just be more professional from an Art Historian's point of view?

There are benefits to both paints, and each plays a unique role in the history of art, so it is really a matter of personal taste, style, and aesthetics (although acrylic paint is usually considered more "elite" than enamel).

A rose by any other name - would a Pollock with a different paint still be a "Pollock"?

Every type of paint has unique qualities that make it special. Using a different paint to recreate a painting would mean the copy will be (slightly) different. A Pollock is a Pollock because Pollock painted the painting. Would Pollock's name be say David, the painting would be the same, and all David's would still be Davids. Changing the name of the object doesn't change the object itself.

What thinners are used to give enamel paints their low viscosity?

They mention in this video: https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/MoMA/art-terms-in-action/v/moma-art-term-viscosity Linseed Oil, Turpentine and other solvents.

I am confused here. Enamel paint is another type of paint, as let's say, oil paint, acrylic paint and tempera paint? I remember in a past video, you can decrease the viscosity of an oil paint by adding enamel paint.

Yes, enamel paint is another type of paint, it is the type of paint usually used to paint the walls of houses. Here are some links to videos that go into more depth of some artists's preferences and processes of using this paint for art. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/how-to-paint/v/moma-painting-technique-kline https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/how-to-paint/v/moma-painting-technique-pollock Hope that helps you!

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Course: The Museum of Modern Art > Unit 1

Lesson 5: Art terms in action

Art Terms in Action: Enamel

Name: Art Terms in Action: Enamel
Uploaded: 2013-10-19T02:30:23Z
Description: Learn the properties of enamel paint and why artists use it. To experiment on your own, take our online studio course Materials and Techniques of Postwar Abstract Painting.

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Learn the properties of enamel paint and why artists use it. To experiment on your own, take our online studio course Materials and Techniques of Postwar Abstract Painting. Created by The Museum of Modern Art.

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Dayvyd
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Dayvyd's post “A rose by any other name ...”
A rose by any other name - would a Pollock with a different paint still be a "Pollock"?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Dayvyd's post “A rose by any other name ...”
(3 votes)
Answer
- michelle
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to michelle's post “Every type of paint has u...”
  Every type of paint has unique qualities that make it special. Using a different paint to recreate a painting would mean the copy will be (slightly) different.
  
  A Pollock is a Pollock because Pollock painted the painting. Would Pollock's name be say David, the painting would be the same, and all David's would still be Davids. Changing the name of the object doesn't change the object itself.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (12 votes)
Matthew DeWard
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Matthew DeWard's post “I am very much an admirer...”
I am very much an admirer of Abstract art and have actually made a few pieces to show my art teacher back when I was in High school. Would it be easier to use enamel paints rather than acrylic? Or would it just be more professional from an Art Historian's point of view?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(6 votes)
Answer
- Peterson
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Peterson's post “There are benefits to bot...”
  There are benefits to both paints, and each plays a unique role in the history of art, so it is really a matter of personal taste, style, and aesthetics (although acrylic paint is usually considered more "elite" than enamel).
  Comment on Peterson's post “There are benefits to bot...”
  (5 votes)
Dayvyd
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Dayvyd's post “Did artists start using e...”
Did artists start using enamel paints because of the certain qualities it possessed, or because of cost? Which came first - qualities (chicken) or the cost (egg)?
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(5 votes)
Answer
- Gabrielle Pantano
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Gabrielle Pantano's post “You should watch this vid...”
  You should watch this video if you already haven't, it shows that the artist Franz Kline used these enamel paints because he preferred them. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/how-to-paint/v/moma-painting-technique-kline
  Then there is this one as well about Jackson Pollock painting with these paints.
  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/how-to-paint/v/moma-painting-technique-pollock
  Button navigates to signup page
  (1 vote)
Joy
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Joy's post “What thinners are used to...”
What thinners are used to give enamel paints their low viscosity?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- Matthew Brener
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Matthew Brener's post “They mention in this vide...”
  They mention in this video: https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/MoMA/art-terms-in-action/v/moma-art-term-viscosity
  
  Linseed Oil, Turpentine and other solvents.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
Ross Khonghun
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Ross Khonghun's post “I am confused here. Ename...”
I am confused here. Enamel paint is another type of paint, as let's say, oil paint, acrylic paint and tempera paint? I remember in a past video, you can decrease the viscosity of an oil paint by adding enamel paint.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- Gabrielle Pantano
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Gabrielle Pantano's post “Yes, enamel paint is anot...”
  Yes, enamel paint is another type of paint, it is the type of paint usually used to paint the walls of houses. Here are some links to videos that go into more depth of some artists's preferences and processes of using this paint for art.
  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/how-to-paint/v/moma-painting-technique-kline
  
  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/how-to-paint/v/moma-painting-technique-pollock
  Hope that helps you!
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)
homeschooler77
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to homeschooler77's post “What is viscosity (spell ...”
What is viscosity (spell check)?
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(2 votes)
Answer
- Peterson
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Peterson's post “This should explains thin...”
  This should explains things for you: https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/MoMA/moma-abstract-expressionism/v/moma-art-term-viscosity
  Button navigates to signup page
  (1 vote)
Helene Michalakakou
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Helene Michalakakou's post “Are there any specific br...”
Are there any specific brands of paint in the market today that we should be looking at in order to use for abstract art? Enamel paint that works well with traditional artists oil paint?
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(2 votes)
Answer
Nick Burgeson
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Nick Burgeson's post “At 0:36 the guy started b...”
At
0:36
the guy started by standing up be was spreading the paint as if he was scribbling. What was he doing there?
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(1 vote)
Answer
Liotun Dahazrahazyeh
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Liotun Dahazrahazyeh's post “so enamel paint is more f...”
so enamel paint is more for painting at home?
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(1 vote)
Answer
Harvir Singh
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Harvir Singh's post “whats the difference betw...”
whats the difference between poster colors and acrylic colors?
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(1 vote)
Answer

Video transcript

Male: Enamel paints are essentially household paints or automotive paints, and they've been used by artists for a long time as early as well, Pablo Picasso. In the early 20th century many abstract expressionist painters used it, but enamel is a tricky term because it doesn't really tell you what type of paint you're talking about, but rather the properties of that paint. There is alkyd enamel paints. There is acrylic enamel paint. There are latex enamel paints. It just means that actually the paint is quite fluid and you can see that it has a very low viscosity as I'm pouring it from the can here. It also means that the paint has a high covering power. So, that for consumers at home painting walls one coat should do the trick so you shouldn't see brush strokes and things like that on your wall. It also means that the paint is self leveling, very, very flat. Usually dries to a hard, often glossy finish.