"Lean" paint, conversely, has more pigment and less oil, behaving more like tempera and drying quickly. Fat Over Lean The foundational rule of oil painting dictates that each successive layer must contain more oil than the layer beneath it.
Understanding the Fat Over Lean Rule in Oil Painting
Hue and Chroma Transparency and Opacity. "Fat" refers to paint with a high ratio of oil to pigment, making it slick, translucent, and slow to dry.
An underpainting is the initial layer of color laid down to establish values and major shapes. Techniques like grisaille (monochromatic underpainting) or verdaccio (green-toned underpainting) are used to build a tonal foundation before color is introduced, effectively mapping the composition before the final color is applied.
Understanding Fat Over Lean in Oil Painting
A solvent such as turpentine or mineral spirits reduces the paint's viscosity, making it more "open" (drying slowly) and easier to spread for initial blocking-in. Glazing involves applying a thin, transparent layer of "fat" paint over a dry, "lean" underpainting.
More About Oil painting terms
Looking at Oil painting terms from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on Oil painting terms can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
