Glitter is an assortment of flat, small, reflective particles that are precision cut and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. It has been used since prehistoric times in the arts and in cosmetics. The modern English word "glitter" comes from the Middle English word gliteren, possibly by way of the Old Norse word glitra. However, as early as 30,000 years ago, mica flakes were used to give cave paintings a glittering appearance. Prehistoric humans are believed to have used cosmetics, made of powdered hematite, a sparkling mineral. The Ancient Egyptians produced "glitter-like substan...
The Art Media Glitter
Glitter is an assortment of flat, small, reflective particles that are precision cut and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. It has been used since prehistoric times in the arts and in cosmetics. The modern English word "glitter" comes from the Middle English word gliteren, possibly by way of the Old Norse word glitra. However, as early as 30,000 years ago, mica flakes were used to give cave paintings a glittering appearance. Prehistoric humans are believed to have used cosmetics, made of powdered hematite, a sparkling mineral. The Ancient Egyptians produced "glitter-like substances from crushed beetles" as well as finely ground green malachite crystal. Researchers believe Mayan temples were sometimes painted with red, green, and grey glitter paint made from mica dust, based on infrared scans of the remnants of paint still found on the structures in present-day Guatemala. People of the Americas 8,000 years ago were using powdered galena, a form of lead, to produce a bright greyish-white glittering paint used for objects of adornment. The collecting and surface mining of galena was prevalent in the Upper Mississippi Valley region by the Cahokia native peoples, for regional trade both raw and crafted into beads or other objects.
Modern glitter is usually manufactured from the combination of aluminum and plastic, which is rarely recycled and finds its way into the aquatic habitats, eventually becoming ingested by animals, leading some scientists to call for bans on plastic glitter. Shoubeegi, a painting by Frank Stella, is an example of modern art that uses glitter as a medium. The painting is part of the collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco, United States) and is an example of Abstract Expressionism.
Coast Glitter 2, a painting by John Korner, also uses glitter as a medium. The painting is an oil on canvas work that measures 92 x 127 cm.
Toil, Glitter, Grime And Wealth On A Flowing Tide, a painting by William Lionel Wyllie, and
Morning Glitter, Isle Of Wight, a painting by Algernon Talmage, are two other examples of modern art that use glitter as a medium.
Glitter is also used in fashion and clothing. For example, the album cover for "Boys Will Be Boys" by Gary Glitter features a model wearing clothing adorned with glitter. The album was released on 10 March 1984 by Arista Records and features two top 30 hits: "Dance Me Up" and "Another Rock and Roll Christmas".
In conclusion, glitter is a versatile art medium that has been used for thousands of years in various forms. It can be found in ancient cave paintings, Egyptian cosmetics, and modern art. Glitter adds a unique sparkle and shine to any artwork and continues to be a popular choice for artists today.