• Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial
Malcolm Dewey Fine Art
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial

Artist's Secrets for Using Using Thick Paint Better

17/2/2016

Comments

 
How to Use thick Paint and impasto.
 
Recently an artist asked me why is using thick paint and textured brushwork desirable? How can one use this technique especially in large areas like the sky?

The approach of working from thin to thicker paint, working fat over lean, usually starts with a thin wash of oil paint with a good measure of spirits mixed in. Perhaps a medium like liquin mixed in. 

Then a layer of thicker paint over that one to develop the shapes further. Until the painting is done. Acrylics is worked in similar fashion using water to dilute the paint. The ability to use thick paint is something you can take advantage of.

It is an advantage because:
  1. Thick paint and brush marks in the paint create texture;
  2. Textured paint creates interest. From further off the play of light over the textured surface can add something. 
  3. Colors alongside each other can fuse and create optical mixing. This atmospheric mixing of color in the painting is much like what happens outdoors.
  4. When viewed closer the thick and thin paint take on an abstract quality. If done well this can be pleasing to the eye.
  5. Brushmarks can enhance movement. For example direction lines in a road.
  6. Abstract shapes allow the mind to fill in the details. In nature we do not see every leaf. But our mind delights in making up things to see.
Okay so how to do this? The following will help:
  1. Bristle brushes rather than sable or soft synthetic. Long flats are good. Filberts too.
  2. Larger size brushes: 6, 8 and 10 do the trick for most small to mid size panels.
  3. A painting knife. A long and medium length work well. I prefer the rounded points to the sharper variety.
  4. Smaller painting surfaces. Practice on 10"x 12" panels to get the most out of it. Large surfaces can waste paint and take longer to resolve.
  5. Paint quicker. Add your favorite music to spur you on!
Choice of subject is important. A subject that has distinct light and darks. Shapes that are familiar and forgiving. Shrubs, trees, houses and such that you can suggest with flat shapes. A nice variety of light and shade works well.

General Process:
  1. Do a preliminary sketch. A notan study helps too.
  2. Squint and look for big shapes.
  3. Use a limited palette of colors. The primaries, one or two others and white.
  4. Premix your main colors to allow for quicker painting.
  5. Block in your main shapes with the thin wash.
  6. I like to prime my panel with a warm color first. Often this shows through in gaps and adds to the effect.
  7. Keep your shadow areas thinner. Try not to use white paint in the shadows.
  8. Now mid value and light areas can get the thicker paint. Butter on the paint and leave it alone. Resist the urge to smooth it out. It may not be perfect, but assess later. Then the next note of color and so on.
  9. Larger brushstrokes and thicker paint in the foreground.
  10. The sky can also be thick-ish. If it is smooth/flat it will look odd. Use thicker highlights on the sunlit clouds for example.
  11. All the rules of color and value apply. Such as color temperature, atmospheric perspective and so on.
  12. The idea is to lay down strokes of color (color notes) next to each other. Think mosaic.
  13. Hold the brush parallel to the canvas when laying thick paint over underlayers. Be gentle to avoid mixing up the lower layers.
  14. Step back often to look at the painting as a whole. It should come together better. Up close it should be kind of abstract.
  15. Practice.
You can use the painting knife too. In fact this may be easier at first. The knife keeps the paint cleaner with less mixing of underlayers. Afterwards you will also enjoy using both brush and painting knife. 
If some areas look wrong, scrape the paint off. Go over the scraped area again. 

Muddy Paint? Have a look at these 12 Tips to Avoid Muddy Paint

Expect to make mistakes and have paintings that look like an abstract from far off too. Laugh and try again. I promise you when it clicks you will love it!

Watch a few videos of artists using the painterly approach. My top artist for this is Kevin Mapherson. For more adventurous painting look up Russian impressionist artists. They are wild and love the thick paint approach. Exciting work!
​
Right - now your turn. Send me a pic of your work if you like. 

PS: Check out the video below for more tips. You can get more lessons on my course, Learn to Paint With Impact.
 

Pin for later:

How to use thick paint and impasto.

Comments
    FREE Book
    Picture

    Color Tips for Artists:
    ​Free
    Picture

    Book Bundle Special
    See More
    Picture

    Author

    Malcolm Dewey: Artist. Country: South Africa
    View Portfolio:

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Art Business
    Artist Notes
    Books Worth Every Dime!
    Its An Artists Life
    Musings
    News
    Painting Course
    Painting Demonstration
    Painting Tips
    Podcasts
    Popular Posts Archive
    Reviews


    Picture

    Picture

    Visit Malcolm Dewey Fine Art's profile on Pinterest.

    FREE
    ​GUIDE

    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Picture

Studio:  Troon Crescent, Port Alfred, South Africa
​Malcolm Dewey Fine Art is committed to top quality art, excellent educational material and having a great time! To back that up all works sold come with a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. Simply return the work, undamaged, within 30 days. Returns at purchaser expense. All transaction are protected by third party bank-level encryption to keep your information safe. Plus your email address is safe. No spam - ever!

​Copyright 2010-2020: Malcolm Dewey Fine Art
​
Picture
30 Day Money Back
Picture
Secure Transactions
Picture
Picture
No Spam Ever!
Photos used under Creative Commons from maHidoodi, buggolo, Fabio Téllez
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Paintings for Sale
  • Painting Course
  • Top Painting Tips
    • Prints
  • Art Coaching
  • Resources
  • Free Download
  • Artist Statement
  • Podcast
  • Painting Podcast
  • Contact
  • Reference and Tutorial