An original work of art (one-of-a-kind) painted by hand using various water-based pigments It is notable for its smooth application, transparency and for its unique blending ability It has been continuously used for many centuries and enjoys especially strong popularity in the United States today
A finely ground pigment combined with a water soluble binding agent, commonly gum Arabic It is usually distributed in either tubes or cakes Water is used as the vehicle to spread and dilute the color, and it subsequently evaporates It is the gum Arabic that binds the pigments to the surface of the support, which is usually paper