Tempera
The go-to substance for much of ancient artwork, this consisted of more rudimentary types of paint crushed together with materials such as egg yolk to help the pigmentation cohere together. This made for a fast-drying substance that could last long, with artwork using such mixtures surviving from as far back as the first century CE.
Oil Painting
First gaining prominence in the 15th century, oil paints are what you think of when you think of the paint used in everything from the Italian Renaissance and Dutch Golden Age to the likes of Reynolds and Romney to Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun and beyond. These types of paints contain linseed oil that causes them to dry slower than other kinds of paint, allowing artists more time to mix, smear, and work with them. It also gives them more opportunity to add different layers of paint on top of one another to create different effects.
Pastels
These became popular in the 18th century, with the paint pigment appearing similar to oils while featuring a binding material to keep things together. One result of this is that soft pastels blend very well together. By contrast, hard pastels can be used to create sharper outlines.
Watercolors
While these are some of the first types of paints many of us get due to their cheapness (and how easily they wash off, a favorite for parents), they are actually quite challenging to use professionally. Once they are applied to a surface, they are much less pliable than oil paints. In exchange, however, watercolors offer a rich color palette, meaning if you are precise enough and know how to use them, you can take advantage of this and their translucent nature to work wonders with light and color.
Acrylic painting
The rise of acrylic painting in the mid to late 20th century saw a change in the way paintings were made. Unlike oil paints, acrylics tend to dry fast. They can also be quite thick and water-resistant. When water is added, it can also give a sort of “matte effect” on a painting’s texture and appearance.