Oil Paint Terms

Oil Painting Vocabulary Binder - The ingredient in the vehicle of a paint which adheres the pigment particles to one another and to the ground Brush types - Soft or hard (bristle), oil brushes come in many shapes. Each serves a unique function. Brunaille - a painting executed entirely or primarily in shades of brown. Such a painting is described as having been painted "en brunaille”. Direct painting - This method of painting is used to make paintings in a single application. This is an opaque painting technique used by the Impressionists in their early work, the Fauves and the Abstract Expressionists. Alla prima is a method of direct painting in a single paint layer usually on a white ground. Fat – this describes the oil content in paints, for example, Burnt umber has a ‘low fat’ oil content, so it is a fast drying oil paint because there is less oil in the paint mixture to oxidise and dry. Ivory black has a ‘high fat’ oil content so takes longer to dry. Mediums can be added to paints to increase the fat content. Fat over lean – means that each succeeding layer of paint should have more ‘fat – oil’ than the preceding layer. If you are painting in an indirect method (working in layers rather than all in one go – alla prima) you need to adhere to this rule to help 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. Grisaille – (Pronounced: griz-zai) a monochromatic oil painting which is often used in under-paintings or as a black & white painting technique. Ground – a thin layer of paint, applied to a support to make it ready for painting, can be white but can be a colored ground. Impasto - the texture created in a paint surface by the movement of the brush. Impasto usually implies thick, heavy brushwork, but the term also refers to the crisp, delicate textures found in smoother paint surfaces. Indirect painting - Painters use this method to build up multiple layers of paint and medium to achieve some desired visual effects. Titian, Rembrandt and Rubens are among the great painters who constructed oil paintings with the simple technique of applying three distinct layers: Matte - A dull surface Mediums -  The liquid binder that holds the pigment particles also known as the “vehicle”. Linseed oils the most common. Other “modifiers” can vary the handling and drying of the paint, including stand oil, safflower oil, alkyd gels, and wax mediums. Linseed Oil - The primary binding agent in oil painting and printing inks, made by pressing the seeds of the flax plant. As it oxidizes, it leaves a strong, flexible film of paint. It is prone to becoming brittle and yellowing over time which is why most older paintings have cracks. Motif - The theme or source which is often repeated. Pigment - refers to the powdered color or hue made of specific minerals based on the color. Palette - A rectangular or oval-shaped flat surface used for mixing colors.  Also refers to the selection of colors used by an artist. Palette Knives- Thin flexible blade made of steel or plastic and used for mixing and painting. Prime - To make ready.  The preparatory coating of gesso or sizing of the ground. Saturation - The greatest possible intensity of the color. Scumbling - Dragging a nearly dry brush in a “broken manner” over a previously painted dry surface. Solvent - Volatile liquids that evaporate and leave no trace in the process of oil painting. Function as desolvers and thinners. Examples include gum turpentine, mineral spirits, etc. Study - A comprehensive drawing or painting.  Also refers to a detail that can be incorporated into a f inished painting. Sfumato – (Pronounced: sfoo-mah-toe) from the Italian word for “smoke.” Sfumato is a technique of painting in thin glazes to achieve a hazy, cloudy atmosphere, often to represent objects or landscape meant to be perceived as distant from the picture plane. Stretcher - The wooden frame on which canvas or paper is stretched. Tacky - Sticky, partly dried. Turpenoid - A lower-odor turpentine-substitute, used to thin oil paint. Wash - The application of color in a thin, fluid manner.  Also refers to diluted pigment. Underpainting - A monochromatic sketch put down on the canvas first, as an infrastructure, which will be completely covered up by the painting. Varnish – a final layer that can be applied over a finished painting. A varnish protects a painting from environmental dirt and dust and is removable for cleaning and conservation purposes.