Painting admits a wide range of techniques.
Painting in the old days was structured. There were certain ways to do things. In contemporary art, these restrictions are no longer present. You may use whatever method you select to get paint to canvas. Experiment with different applications. Use the method that works for the task in painting that you face.
Palette Knive
The palette knife, a tool developed for mixing, applies paint with verve as well. It is used for impasto and scumbling. These are heavy paint mixtures. The consistency of the paint applied can be that of artist's paint from the tube or of paint with thickeners as an admixture. Scoop the paint from the palette with your palette knife. Smear the paint on the painting. Add different colors; mix colors right on the canvas. Use the knife in a hatching motion. This motion cuts through thick paint, applying texture.
Wet-into-Wet
Wet-into-wet is a fun, sloppy technique. It means painting wet paint immediately into still-wet paint. The wet paints mix on the work and make not just new colors but interesting liquid forms. Make sure the paints you use are thick enough. If they are too thin, they may slide. To rectify this, lay your support flat.
Action Painting
Action painting, otherwise referred to as an Abstract Expressionist style, employs dynamism. It works best on medium-size or large pieces. When painting, use your whole arm and at times your body, depending on the scale of the creation. Large brushes are key. Mix your paint in a container. You can also use liquid paint from a can. Apply your paint in sweeping gestures. Use hacking or slashing motions. Each stroke will have its own personality. For a variation, place your painting flat, applying liquid paint from above. This is the method Jackson Pollock created.
Clean Edge and Stencil
Simulate screen prints, or just make fine, sharp-edged industrial forms with stencils and tape. These crisp creations have the opposite impact of action paintings. Apply painter's tape -- in shapes or arrangements of your choice -- directly to your creation. Apply your paint then remove the tape. Use stencils to make words or forms. You can also trace onto cardboard forms of your own creation or copies of interesting images. Cut the forms or images out and use them to fabricate repetitive images on your painting.
