Term: Tonking

A technique used to remove excess paint from a painting surface by blotting it with a sheet of absorbent paper (such as, newspaper or paper towel). Tonking is accomplished by pressing paper gently but firmly into the wet paint, and then carefully lifting the paper off the surface. The excess paint is absorbed by or adheres to the paper leaving the surface more workable. This process can be repeated using fresh paper until sufficient paint has been removed.

This technique is used primarily to remove oil paint that has become too thick or overworked. Excess paint could also be removed with a palette knife or cloth but these alternatives will remove the image as well. Tonking, on the other hand, leaves most of the image intact so it can be more easily reworked. Tonking was named after the British artist Henry Tonks, who taught at the Slade School of Art in London.