A day of focused work and some playfulness produced strong paintings. There was quite a variety of styles from soft washes to heavy impasto with some paintings incorporating both. As always, I enjoyed this group of painters. I often come away from a workshop feeling that I have learned from the participants. This was not an exception. But this workshop also gave me a new quote to hang on to.
Impasto is not a bad word.
One of the participants asked part way through, "Did she just use a curse word? What's that impasto?" (Yes, she's really a very funny person.)
So to clear up a few things. No, impasto is not a bad word. It is a painting technique where the paint is applied thickly. Often a palette knife is used to apply the paint, and the colors may be mixed directly on the canvas. The paint is opaque and brush or palette knife marks become part of the work. Another technique is to use a wash. This is where water, or a painting medium of some sort is added to the paint. The pigment goes on thinly and can be translucent. If this is done over previous paint marks the underpainting will show through. (For impasto paintings look at Van Gogh's work, for examples of washes look at JMW Turner's work.)
And to add one more word, also not a curse word, how about tonking? This is what a painter does when he/she realizes more paint has been applied than desired. Using a cloth or paper towel, excess paint is carefully blotted off. I watched one of our participants tonk in this workshop.
Applying paint heavily, using ultra thin washes, dabbing, splattering or even fingerpainting: any of these techniques are your choice to express yourself in color.
Here are a few photos from the workshop.
Impasto is not a bad word.
One of the participants asked part way through, "Did she just use a curse word? What's that impasto?" (Yes, she's really a very funny person.)
So to clear up a few things. No, impasto is not a bad word. It is a painting technique where the paint is applied thickly. Often a palette knife is used to apply the paint, and the colors may be mixed directly on the canvas. The paint is opaque and brush or palette knife marks become part of the work. Another technique is to use a wash. This is where water, or a painting medium of some sort is added to the paint. The pigment goes on thinly and can be translucent. If this is done over previous paint marks the underpainting will show through. (For impasto paintings look at Van Gogh's work, for examples of washes look at JMW Turner's work.)
And to add one more word, also not a curse word, how about tonking? This is what a painter does when he/she realizes more paint has been applied than desired. Using a cloth or paper towel, excess paint is carefully blotted off. I watched one of our participants tonk in this workshop.
Applying paint heavily, using ultra thin washes, dabbing, splattering or even fingerpainting: any of these techniques are your choice to express yourself in color.
Here are a few photos from the workshop.
Photo credit: Sharlene Aquino | |