Impasto - painting techniques

For prominent, expressive, almost three-dimensional paintings, famous painters like Rembrandt and Titian, Vincent van Gogh and, closer to our days, Frank Auerbach used impasto, a painting technique allowing the creator to add a thicker layer of paint on the surface. Impasto is easily recognized because it is the technique revealing painter's every move and touch on the canvas. Impasto gives the impression of texture, light and speed. The rhythm of the painting is more obvious if painted in impasto. Moreover, the creator can easily handle the light on the canvas, joggling with rough and delicate areas and resulting into a very realistic piece.

More suitable for impasto is oil paint, extended with linseed oil if wanted. There are cases when instead of oil paint, acrylic paint is used. The difference between the two is that acrylic paint dries much faster than oil paint and requires certain skills and concepts. Watercolor and tempera can be used for impasto effect only in combination with Aquapasto, which makes them thicker.

Using light and the impression of palpability, impasto paintings are meant to involve the viewer and create a vivid and realistic reflection of a particular concept.

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