Popular painting techniques for artists

A brief introduction for experienced artists

Today there is many different types of painting techniques for artists. Almost all of these different techniques of painting are known to experienced artists and true connoisseurs of art.

Sponge painting

One of the popular ways in different painting techniques for artists is sponge painting. You can create patterns or designs with a dyed and wrung-out sponge. If you roll a thin sponge into a roll, you can get patterns resembling snails or shells.

You can draw with a poke of a sponge or foam rubber. For convenience, foam rubber can be tied to a pencil or inserted caps into a felt-tip pen.

Dry brush painting

Dry brush is a painting and graphic technique used in fine arts. The dry brush method consists in applying paint with a brush to a textured surface.

The brush should remain almost dry. The textured surface can be watercolor paper, canvas, unprimed canvas, as well as various metal and wooden planes.

Between different styles of painting techniques, this one makes it possible to do a detailed drawing of forms while achieving a photographic effect. By the way, sometimes, to achieve maximum detail, mixed media is used, combining different materials.

This is especially true for portraits, as they contain objects with different surface textures. The correct application of binders (oil, water) in small quantities is the main technique of the dry brush technique since the brush must be dry. This can be seen by watching the video on the dry brush technique.

Also, materials such as ink, acrylic, and tempera can be used as a dye. The density and texture of the paper are selected individually.

Why this method is popular?

• work can be done very quickly;
• technology allows you to highlight small details, and the portrait resembles a photograph;
• no need to fix the graphics because the oil paint is quickly absorbed into the material and does not smear.

Pictures can be immediately rolled up for transportation or framed. However, they do not deform.

Using the dry brush technique, you can paint almost anything: portraits, landscapes, and still lifes. Preliminary sketches are not required. Reception can be combined with other techniques. If the artist prefers black and white colors, his work resembles paintings made with charcoal or pencil.

Drip painting

Drip painting was developed by an artist who works in the technique of abstraction, back in the middle of the last century. It called this technique "action painting". The essence of the method is that you need to drip paint onto the canvas. You can drip it from a brush, or directly onto the surface of the canvas.

The technique provides for the creation of different textures, and the result will not always be predictable. The technique is highly applicable in abstract drawing.

In this case, the drawings are deeper and curly. You can create various art forms by applying paint drops to the surface of the canvas. You can also rely on the rules of gravity. This will create real works of art. As an alternative to acrylic-based liquid paint, it is better to use thick acrylic paint.

Impasto painting

The essence of this method of painting is that the paints will be applied to the canvas in the form of a thick layer. This will create an additional texture and light effect. The paint can be applied with a regular brush, or you can use a palette knife. Some masters work with a spatula.

Such an overlay helps to create uneven surfaces, so the drawings are peculiar and unique. Given that the texture will not have a smooth surface and ideality, you can achieve various effects in your work. This will provide the formation of volume, and you can experiment with light and shadow.

The impasto technique can be used to create individual elements in a painting. Some masters even use this technique to fully create a drawing. The impasto technique is different in that the image should not have transparent areas.

You can work with oils, acrylics, or tempera. In this case, the application of strokes is carried out in a thick layer, which is a bit like a paste. The volumetric impasto technique is quite common. This allows the light to be contained and the shadow to be formed. This will further provide a three-dimensional effect.

Variety of drawing

You can create a beautiful live image, fully conveying the form and placing accents. Such paintings will look advantageous, and will become interior decoration. This is the ideal solution if you need to depict different textures.

The impasto technique can be drawn in completely different ways. You can apply paint in a thick layer. In this case, rough and wide strokes will be appropriate. If you plan to use a palette knife in your work, traces of it should form on the paint. This will provide additional texture and relief.

You can apply the technique using strokes. After applying the paint, the effect of the crest of the wave will be formed. A similar effect is achieved only with the use of a palette knife. It must be applied with patting movements on the canvas. Then tear off to form characteristic "scallops".

You can make rounded strokes. This method is often used by Vincent van Gogh. The work uses a rounded brush, which forms strokes in the form of an arc. You can apply linear strokes. A similar technique also involves the use of a palette knife.

Try to work so that the strokes overlap a little. This will make the drawing more characteristic. Works made with rollers and spatulas will look beautiful. Impasto is the best technique if you want to experiment and become an innovator in art.

Results

As you can see from the list of different painting techniques if you have all the necessary materials, you can safely start painting in different techniques of painting art from a photograph or from nature, it all depends on experience. For beginners, it is advisable to study the dry brush portrait training course.