Art History: The Origins of 7 of Your Favorite Art Supplies

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

oil paints and brushes

A young girl with braided hair paints a colorful outdoor scene on an easel in a classroom, with art supplies and posters visible in the background.

Diagram of a ballpoint pen cut in half lengthwise, showing internal parts including the plunger, back spring, barrel, clip, refill, front spring, point, and a close-up of the tip with the ball and ink tube.

Seven wax coloring crayons in a row, arranged in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, dark blue, and purple.

Art History: The Origins of 7 of Your Favorite Art Supplies: Media

Are crayons ancient, or just timeless?

Images

oil paints and brushes

oil paints and brushes

Oil paints, which have the consistency of a smooth, buttery paste, come in a variety...

© Dmitry Pichugin/Fotolia

Pencil.

Pencil.

Oktaeder

A young girl with braided hair paints a colorful outdoor scene on an easel in a classroom, with art supplies and posters visible in the background.

easel

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Diagram of a ballpoint pen cut in half lengthwise, showing internal parts including the plunger, back spring, barrel, clip, refill, front spring, point, and a close-up of the tip with the ball and ink tube.

Ballpoint pen

A cross-section of a ballpoint pen, showing its internal parts.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

paint

paint

© John Holst/Fotolia

paint

paint

© Dmitry Pichugin/Fotolia

pottery wheel

pottery wheel

© DragonImages/Fotolia

Seven wax coloring crayons in a row, arranged in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, dark blue, and purple.

crayons

© George Filyagin/Shutterstock.com