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Texture with Oil Colour

© Susan A. Wenz-Denise

Oil colour, with its mediums, lends well to glazing techniques with a smooth varnished finish. However, there are a large variety of texture effects that can be attained in oil painting using traditional techniques like impasto, or simply through experimentation. This article will browse through the several popular oil painting effects, and how they can be used in achieving texture.

Impasto

Prepare yourself with tons of oil colour before embarking on an impasto oil painting journey. Impasto is the technique of applying large quantities of paint with a brush or palette knife, usually with a very gestural quality. The effect is a three-dimensional aspect to the surface.

Often, specific mediums created for impasto painting are used to increase the thick texture of the paint while slightly reducing the amount of paint that would otherwise have been applied directly from the tube. Such mediums, like oleopasto, are also helpful in aiding in the drying process as they hold their shape as the paint dries.

Sometimes impasto can be used in traditional painting if done lightly in only certain pinnacle areas, like bright highlights.

Most effective application - Colour mixed with oleopasto medium; no drying oils or solvents; palette knife or large brush

Scumbling

The procedure involved in scumbling oil paint is reminiscent of an art project you may have done in elementary school. It involves painting a fairly thick application of colour, and then removing the paint with an absorbent textured object like a rag, sponge or dry brush. Using the term a little more loosely, scumbling can also refer to the process in which paint is blurred or blended on the surface with a rag. In scumbling, the more creative the texture used, the more interesting a texture it will create. Experimentation lovers will adore this painting style.

Most effective application - Colour straight from the tube; no drying oils or solvents

Ala Prima

Painting ala prima typically refers to the process of painting in one sitting. The application of colour is quick, and commonly full of expression. The texture is created in an impromptu way through the manipulation of a thicker layer of paint.

Ala prima technique does not involve layers or glazing. As such, the rule of "flexible over inflexible" or "Fat over Lean" does not necessarily apply. However, dull areas and cracking can still occur, so it is imperative that when painting ala prima that too many solvents or mediums are not used. Instead, paintings in an ala prima style are usually painted with colour straight from the tube or with a minimal use of drying oil or solvents.