- TOOLS:

Fresco is done with plaster that is mixed with lime, which holds the pigment.

Pigments are mixed with water as needed. Mixing tools and flat knives and are used to apply the plaster. Paint applied to wet plaster is called true fresco, while paint applied to dry plaster is called secco . Brushes are used to apply the paint.

Fresco painting is one the of earliest forms of artwork. Cave paintings done in France and Spain were done on limestone-coated walls, giving the paint a durability found in true fresco.  

Fresco painting was also used on walls in ancient Egypt, where the plaster was made from gypsum and silt. The plaster was applied in smooth layers, one after another. It was then painted after it had completely dried, the secco technique. (Grove Art, "wall painting") Early Greek and Roman artists painted into wet plaster, and the discovery of Pompeii revealed a huge number of frescoes (www.frescopainting.com). Roman plaster was usually made from marble dust, lime, sand, clay and sometimes wax (used as a top coat). The plaster was applied in many layers, the top layer being the smoothest. The great writer Vitruvius recommended an artist have at least seven layers of plaster before painting. Romans used a number of things for pigments: cinnabar and iron oxides for red and blacks, goethite or limonite for yellows, Egyptian blues, and green clays. (Grove Art, "wall painting")

Wet frescos must be done in sections. Artist usually laid out the placement of their sections so that the dividing lines would be discreet. (www.italianfrescos.com) Fresco paint is more limited than other types of painting, because layering is difficult. Mistakes must be washed away and more plaster must be applied. A benefit of fresco painting is that the colors are very clear (although they lighten when they dry), and the paintings tend to last longer and fade less than oil.

During the Renaissance, artists used cartoons as sketches for their frescos. Cartoons are usually pencil or graphite drawings done on large sheets of paper. The artist then pokes holes on the main lines of their drawing. The drawing is held against the wet plaster and a small bag of dark dust is hit against the holes, allowing a small amount through. This allowed the artist to have a simple sketch in dots of what they were about to paint. This method could be done quickly, which is necessary because the plaster begins to dry almost immediately. (www.italianfrescos.com)