Oil Paint Terms

Vehicle

The ingredient of a paint which adheres the pigment particles to one another and to the ground.

Brush types

Soft or hard (bristle) , specifically designed for various functions in oil painting.

Brunaille

A painting executed entirely or primarily in shades of brown,

Direct painting

used to create works in a single application, often opaque, associated with Impressionists and Abstract Expressionists.

Alla prima

A method of direct painting in a single paint layer usually on a white ground.

Fat

Describes the oil content in paints; 'low ‘ means fast drying, while 'high ‘ means slower drying.

Fat over lean

The rule that each succeeding layer of paint should have more 'fat' (oil) than the preceding layer to prevent cracking.

Gesso

A plaster-like material spread upon a surface to prepare it for painting.

Glaze

Transparent painting over a light underpainting.

Gloss

A shiny surface in painting.

Grisaille

A monochromatic oil painting technique often used in under-paintings or as a black & white painting technique.

Ground

A thin layer of paint applied to a support to prepare it for painting.

Impasto

A texture created by movement of the brush, often involving thick, heavy brushwork.

Indirect painting

A method where multiple layers of paint are built up to achieve desired visual effects.

Matte

A dull surface finish.

Mediums

The liquid binder that holds pigment particles; includes linseed oil and various modifiers.

Linseed Oil

The primary binding agent in oil painting, made from flax seeds, known for its flexibility but prone to brittleness.

Motif

The theme or source often repeated in a work of art.

Pigment

Powdered color or hue made of specific minerals.

Palette

A flat surface for mixing colors, also referring to an artist's selection of colors.

Palette Knives

Thin flexible blades used for mixing and painting.

Prime

To prepare a surface with a coating of gesso or sizing.

Saturation

The greatest possible intensity of a color.

Scumbling

Dragging a nearly dry brush over a previously painted dry surface in a broken manner.

Solvent

Volatile liquids that evaporate and leave no trace, used to thin oil paint.

Study

A comprehensive drawing or painting, or a detail incorporated into a finished painting.

Sfumato

A technique of painting in thin glazes to achieve a hazy atmosphere, often for distant objects.

Stretcher

The wooden frame on which canvas or paper is on

Tacky

Describes paint that is sticky or partly dried.

Turpenoid

A lower-odor substitute for turpentine, used to thin oil paint.

Wash

The application of color in a thin, fluid manner; also refers to diluted pigment.

Underpainting

A monochromatic sketch applied to the canvas first, serving as a foundation for the painting.

Varnish

A final layer applied to protect a painting from dirt and dust, removable for cleaning.