impasto
Sculptural brushwork method
Impasto is a painting technique where paint is applied in thick, heavy layers that stand out from the canvas surface.
The texture becomes part of the artwork—visible brushstrokes or knife marks catch light and add dimension.
Van Gogh's swirling skies are classic impasto.
The term also refers to the thick paint itself: She built up the impasto with a palette knife.
Pigment bound with linseed
- acrylicSynthetic resin or fiber
- palette knifeFlat blade for mixing colors
- brushesBristled implements for grooming
- canvasHeavy woven cloth
linen · gesso · medium · encaustic · pigment · turpentine · linseed oil · varnish
Marks left by painting
- palette knifeFlat blade for mixing colors
- layeringForming successive strata
- wet-on-wetPainting into undried layers
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
application · stippling · daubs · strokes · loading · scraping · modeling · working
Having great depth
relief · dimensional · sculptural · chunky · rough · uneven · peaks · grooves
Distance below surface
- volumeAmount of space filled
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- dimensionMeasurable extent or scope
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
shadow · highlight · movement · energy · vibrancy · boldness · intensity · dynamism
oil paint
Pigment bound with linseed
- acrylicSynthetic resin or fiber
- palette knifeFlat blade for mixing colors
- brushesBristled implements for grooming
canvas · linen · gesso · medium · encaustic · pigment · turpentine · linseed oil · varnish
brushstrokes
Marks left by painting
- palette knifeFlat blade for mixing colors
- layeringForming successive strata
- wet-on-wetPainting into undried layers
buildup · application · stippling · daubs · strokes · loading · scraping · modeling · working · blending
thick
Having great depth
tactile · relief · dimensional · sculptural · chunky · rough · uneven · peaks · grooves · buttery
depth
Distance below surface
luminosity · shadow · highlight · movement · energy · vibrancy · boldness · intensity · dynamism · physicality
Van Gogh
- coatingspaint, enamel, varnish, primer, glaze
- artfine art, Renaissance, painters, masterpieces, paint
- art suppliesbrush, paints, pencil, easel, eraser
- paintingoil painting, watercolor, acrylic paint, oils, oil paints
- art techniquespainting, drawing, sketching, shading, blending
- techniquessketching, drawing, painting, sculpting, carving
impastoglazing
Glossy protective coating
glaze · wash · watercolor wash · staining · watercolor technique
impastoflat
Lacking vertical variation
smooth · flush · planar · polished surface · featureless
impastoflat
Lacking vertical variation
smooth · flat finish · polished surface · seamless · unbrushed