At all times, people loved unusual and beautiful things. Particular importance was attached to natural stones, shells, fossils and amber. In this article we will tell you what amber and paintings from amber are. In addition, you will learn how to make a beautiful picture on your own.
What is amber
Amber is a resin that has petrified. This is the so-called hardened resin of coniferous trees, which grew in the Paleogene and Upper Cretaceous period. Currently, it is used mainly as a material for the manufacture of various jewelry. In addition, this material is used in perfumes, pharmaceuticals, and sometimes in the electronic, food and chemical industries. But now it is amber paintings that are in special demand because of their beauty and durability.
In ancient times, at first Aristotle, and after him Pliny the Elder with Theophrastus, suggested that the appearance of amber was somehow connected with the resin of coniferous trees. Because of this, amber is sometimes called "gifts of the sun" or "tears of the sea."
What amber is used in the manufacture of paintings
As a rule, in the manufacture of a picture of amber, unprocessed pieces without holes are used. Amber is convenient in that it is much lighter than natural stone and easier to stick to the base.
When creating a picture using all varieties of amber. It can be very different. Transparent amber is considered the most expensive, since it is rarely found in nature, and it is often faked. Mostly amber honey yellow. But there are samples of both brown and almost black. There are also samples of amber of greenish color, but such stones are practically not used in paintings because of their rarity and high cost.
DIY amber paintings
Most often, paintings depict autumn with amber. This is due to the fact that the natural color of this petrified resin resembles the yellowed leaves of trees. In addition, amber is perfect for creating fabulous motifs.
First you need to find the foundation. It is best to take a solid base for an amber picture, such as canvas on cardboard. Then you need to sketch right on the canvas. Sketch can be done with a simple pencil. You do not need to press hard on the pencil, otherwise the drawing may shine through the paint. Then you need to paint a picture. It is best to take acrylic or tempera paint. Oil for such purposes is not suitable, since it dries very slowly and interacts poorly with glue.
After you have painted the landscape with acrylics, it is necessary to allow the future painting to dry. Wait about a day - during this time any acrylic paint will have time to dry. Then outline the areas where amber should be located. As a rule, these are trees, shrubs, stones near the river. Immediately select the stones of the appropriate color.
Apply glue to the area where you want to stick amber. If you work fast, it is best to use quick-drying glue. And if you prefer to create pictures from amber slowly, then take glue-gel. With it, you can, in case of your mistake, adjust the work.
How to care for a picture of amber
Amber is a rather fragile material. But in the picture he will exist for a long time. If you somehow scratched the amber in the picture, then it can be easily polished. In the open air, amber is slowly but oxidized. This leads to a color change. Therefore, you can paint amber paintings with special varnish. It will help preserve the natural color of the product.
You can create such things yourself or buy. When buying, pay attention to how amber is glued. Pictures (Moscow in this sense offers a wide selection) can be purchased in a specialized store.