10 Essential Painting Techniques Every Artist Should Try.

If you’re anything like me, you love exploring different painting techniques to add depth, texture, and flair to your artwork. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, trying new techniques can totally open up a whole new world of creativity. So, let’s learn about 10 essential painting techniques that can transform your work – plus, I’ve included some examples from famous artists to help inspire you!

1. Underpainting

Okay, let’s start with a classic: underpainting. This technique involves laying down a base layer of paint before you add your final colors. The goal? To set the tone and create depth from the get-go.

Why use it?
It helps with contrasts, adds depth, and gives you a solid foundation to build on.

Example:
If you’ve ever admired The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, you’ve seen underpainting in action. Da Vinci used a dark base to help highlight the light and shadows in the final piece. It’s like setting the stage for the drama to unfold!

2. Dry Brushing

Dry brushing is all about using a dry brush with a small amount of paint to create textured, scratchy strokes. It’s perfect for adding fine details or rough textures.

Why use it?
It’s great for creating texture, especially when you want to mimic natural elements like trees, clouds, or rough surfaces.

Example:
One of the best examples of dry brushing is The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Notice how the swirling strokes create texture and movement in the sky? That’s dry brushing working its magic!

3. Sgraffito

Here’s a fun one: sgraffito. This technique involves scratching through a layer of wet paint to reveal the layer underneath. It creates amazing patterns and textures!

Why use it?
It adds intricate details and a cool textured effect to your painting.

Example:
Artists like Rembrandt used sgraffito to create texture in their work. You can also spot it in the bold, scratched lines of Picasso’s abstract works, adding a sense of energy and movement.

4. Glazing

Glazing is a technique where you apply a thin, transparent layer of paint over a dry layer to enhance depth and luminosity. It’s like adding a veil of light over your painting!

Why use it?
It can make your painting look more vibrant, smooth, and well-balanced by blending colors together.

Example:
Rembrandt was a master of glazing. If you look at The Night Watch, you'll notice how he layered thin glazes to create incredible depth and realism, especially in the faces and skin tones.

5. Gestural Painting

Gestural painting is all about letting go and allowing your brushstrokes to express movement and emotion. The focus is on the process rather than the end result.

Why use it?
It brings raw emotion and spontaneity to your work, perfect for abstract or dynamic pieces.

Example:
Jackson Pollock is the king of gestural painting. Take a look at No. 5, 1948. His sweeping, energetic brushstrokes capture motion and energy in a way that feels almost alive.

6. Stippling

Stippling involves creating images using tiny dots of paint. This technique can create soft gradients or fine details.

Why use it?
It’s a great way to build up texture or shading slowly, and it can give your work a very unique feel.

Example:
The famous pointillist Georges Seurat used stippling in A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. By applying tiny dots of color, he created a stunning landscape that’s full of life!

7. Pouring

Pouring is an awesome technique where you mix acrylic paint with a pouring medium and let it flow across your canvas. You can tilt your canvas to guide the paint around, creating beautiful, organic patterns.

Why use it?
It’s a great way to create fluid, abstract designs with smooth, blended colors.

Example:
Pouring is often used by modern artists, but it was also seen in the works of Helen Frankenthaler, especially in Mountains and Sea, where she used pouring to create dramatic, flowing patterns.

8. Splattering

Splattering is exactly what it sounds like: flicking or dripping paint onto your canvas to create a spontaneous, energetic effect.

Why use it?
It’s perfect for adding movement, chaos, or a playful touch to your artwork.

Example:
Jackson Pollock, again, is the master here. His famous drip paintings (like Lavender Mist) are full of splattered paint that adds an intense, chaotic energy to the work.

9. Dabbing

Dabbing is a fun, quick technique where you use a stiff brush or sponge to apply paint in a tapping motion. It’s often used for creating texture or building up layers.

Why use it?
It’s great for soft textures or adding a gentle touch to your work. Think of it as painting with a little dance.

Example:
Dabbing works wonders for creating textured effects in landscape paintings. You might use it to paint fluffy clouds, as seen in many of Bob Ross's beautiful landscapes!

10. Palette Knife

Last but not least, the palette knife. This one’s all about using a flat knife to apply thick, textured layers of paint or to blend colors.

Why use it?
It gives your work bold textures and helps you avoid the smooth, predictable lines of a brush.

Example:
The great Van Gogh used palette knives to add texture to his works. In Wheatfield with Crows, you can see how the thick, expressive strokes add movement and vibrancy to the painting.

In Conclusion

These 10 techniques are just a glimpse into the vast world of possibilities in painting. The beauty of these techniques is that they each bring something unique to the table, allowing you to experiment and find what works best for you. Whether you’re looking for texture, depth, or raw emotion, there’s a technique here to help you get there.

So, grab your brushes (or knives or sponges!) and start experimenting. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover a new favorite technique that takes your art to the next level!

Let me know in the comments which technique you’re most excited to try, or share any tips and tricks you’ve learned along the way. Keep creating, and as always, stay inspired! ✨

Happy painting! 🎨