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Impasto

What is an impasto?

An impasto is when thick paint is laid onto the canvas with brush or knife. Impesto describes oil paint that has been applied thickly enough to retain the marks and ridges left by the oil paint brush or oil painting knife. Impasto has the ability to build up oil paint which is impasto 's main attractions to many oil paint artists. Impasto allows the oil paintings surface to have a threedimensional quality which can be used to model form and even mimic the texture of the subject being painted.

What are examples of impesto painting?

Impesto paintings can be seen from the work of VanGogh, Soutine and de Stae. They show the use to impasto as direct painting but impesto has often been used as the basis for glazing and the building of solid three dimensional forms. This use of impesto are seen in the underpainting of certain part on the pictures of Rembrandt who applied heavy encrusted areas (impesto) prior to glazing. Turner and Courbet also made this use of impesto.

What does impasto mean?

Impasto derives its name from an Italian word meaning any thick, pasty sub­stance. In painting especially oil painting, impasto is a method of texturing or modeling a surface over which either opaque or transparent color is applied.

Uses of Impasto with Glazing

Impasto 's thickly applied paint is often used in conjunction with glazing by oil paint artists. A dark glaze (glazing technique) over a light colored impasto will emphasize the brustwork of the oil paint artist. Oil paint artists use this impesto technique and glazing technique for depicting texture such as rough stone or wood.

Click here to read about Impasto Gel and Impasto Gel Painting.