A coat of paint is applied to the canvas and left to dry. A second coat of another color is then painted over the first layer. The artist then forms an image by using a palette knife to scratch out a design over the paint. To create a more complex painting, a third layer of color can be applied, and another image scratched to expose the two layers underneath.
Scumble is a form of glaze. It is a thin coating of light opaque color applied over a darker image to soften the overall effect. It gives a translucent quality to the painting and is often used on areas depicting images of skin or luxurious fabric. Because the fresh layer of paint has more white in it than the dry layer underneath, the area that has been scumbled will have a cooler, blue-toned appearance.
Impasto is an Italian word meaning "mixture." It is a technique of applying paint thickly onto canvas, using a palette knife or brush. The thickness of paint allows the brush or knife strokes to be visible on the canvas, allowing the artist to convey expression and emotion. When dry, the texture of paint catches and reflects light, giving the painting depth. Impressionist painters, such as van Gogh and Monet, used this technique in their work. Van Gogh's famous "Sunflowers" painting is a good example of the impasto technique.
This is an Italian term meaning "at first" and is a method of applying wet paint on top of wet paint without allowing the layers to dry in between. A sketch of the image is outlined on the canvas, using thinned out oil paint. Thick color is then applied in a series of layers, one after another. The quickness of application can give the painted image a lively, immediate quality. It takes a certain amount of experience to paint successfully using this method, but it can be liberating and provides a challenge in learning how to apply colors on top of each other without mixing them together.