Tip: Oil Painting Techniques

A technique is a way of carrying out a particular task. The term is used in art to refer to different ways of creating artistic effects. When using paint as a medium, techniques describe unique means of manipulating paint.

This post outlines the most useful and best-known oil painting techniques, all of which are defined on this blog. The techniques are organized into four categories. The first two categories describe ways of applying paint (that is, direct painting and indirect painting), the third lists ways to remove paint, and the last describes different ways of approaching the painting process (also referred to as techniques in many cases). Simply select a technique to find out more information about it.

Direct Painting

• Alla Prima
• Broken Color
• Impasto
• Stipple

Indirect Painting

• Blending
• Dry Brush
• Glazing
• Scumbling
• Sfumato
• Wash

Removing Paint

• S'graffito
• Tonking

Painting Approaches

• Area by Area
• Block-In
• Oiling Out
• Underdrawing
• Underpainting