Oil paint exists in a spectrum of states, from stiff peaks to fluid washes, and mastering the vocabulary of consistency is the first step toward control. The Surface and the Image Just as language relies on grammar, oil painting relies on the physical interaction between the ground and the image.
Oil Painting Terms Glazing Defined
Ignoring this principle risks the cracking of the paint film, as a stiff, dry layer (lean) cannot flex with a soft, flowing top layer (fat). Glazing involves applying a thin, transparent layer of "fat" paint over a dry, "lean" underpainting.
Mediums and Solvents To manipulate consistency, artists utilize a specific lexicon of additives. Fat Over Lean The foundational rule of oil painting dictates that each successive layer must contain more oil than the layer beneath it.
Oil Painting Terms Glazing Defined
Understanding oil painting terms transforms the act of applying pigment into a deliberate dialogue with history and technique. An underpainting is the initial layer of color laid down to establish values and major shapes.
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.
