One of the basic and most used painting techniques of an artist is the scumbling painting technique. This technique is all about applying new layers of pain while showcasing the underpainting which is most likely to incorporate the effects as the dry-brush technique. However, the difference is you are creating depth on the new dab of paint from your paintbrush or cloth or piece of paper as an alternative.
What are the benefits of using a scumbling painting technique for your artwork? What is the best painting medium to use the scumbling painting technique with? How do you properly create the depth of colors when it comes to the scumbling painting technique and the difference from other painting techniques you can try with?
Great Benefits of Scumbling Painting Technique To Every Artist
There are many great benefits that an artist can achieve with the scumbling painting technique. And knowing when to use this painting technique gives you the feeling of knowing more and to achieve that desired effects on your painting surface. The scumbling painting technique is mostly used to add extra texture and depth to the painting surface which builds a unique highlight that is on the top layer of paint and with still visibility of the background.
Exposing the underlayer of paint from the new dab of paints applied creates a unique texture of the artwork. It is essential to keep the underpainting completely dried to achieve the right effects of scumbling technique. Though that also depends on the style and preference of an artist as to how they wanted the scumbling effect on their artworks. There are some techniques and style that allows the underpainting to still be wet when they scumbling to create a unique mixing or blending of colors from the top layer of the paint.
The scumbling technique can be incorporated with either the transparent or opaque colors on the top layer. Though the effects are different and dynamic if you are using an opaque color or white color to create the depth of the painting. If you will make a scumbling effect, it is best that this will be done with a darker background to highlight the sense of depth and texture on the painting surface.
The optical illusion created from the area where you scumbled are best viewed from a distance or afar and once you look at them closely, the visible brushstrokes and brushwork can be seen and make a unique texture afterward. The way you wanted to execute the scumbled effect on your painting is entirely different on how your style will be. There are some artists who used a dry paintbrush for the scumbling painting technique and some useful pieces of cloth or paper just like the way that you are using a sponge on your painting surface for extra depth and style.
Regardless of all the different styles and reasons as to how they wanted the painting technique to take effect on the painting canvas or surface. It always gives a unique and marvelous effect on artwork afterward.
The Painting Medium That Best Work With The Scumbling Painting Technique
Though the scumbling painting technique is traditionally known for oil painting, this can also be done using acrylics and watercolor paints. The effects and how you can manipulate the oil paint has almost the same effects when you wanted to create depth and texture to acrylics and watercolors. There may be different painting medium that incorporates the scumbling technique but the process and methods are always the same.
There are different benefits and reasons as to why artists used scumbling painting technique to their artworks:
- The scumbling technique is traditionally used to add texture and depth to the painting surface while showing the underpainting as well and it is visible to the eye of the viewer and the artist.
- If you are trying to create an atmospheric scene on your painting or artwork, then this painting technique is a great deal for the effect that you wanted.
- When you notice that the background of your painting has this monochromatic view or feels, then you can try the scumbling technique to break the whole area up.
- The scumbling technique is great for giving additional effects and highlights to a darker tone background.
- Another great benefit for scumbling technique is the color blending illusion that you can make which also allows the whole picture to have a smooth transition of colors from one area to another and the colors that were used as well.
The Best Method For Scumbling Painting Technique
There are different methods on how you can successfully incorporate this painting technique with your artwork to achieve the right effects depth on the surface. Though commonly, you always use a thin layer of paint for scumbling. The reason is if you happen to use a thicker layer of paint, then the possibilities may cover the underpainting instead of just creating a highlight or adding texture. You can start with the darker area on your artwork using a small dry brush that is dab on a light color of paint and just slightly squeezes the paintbrush to remove any excess pain in it. That way, you are creating a thin layer of highlights or brush strokes while complementing the underpainting.
If you are into watercolor painting medium then it is best to just let the paper or background be like how it is rather than scumbling effect to expose the paper. If you happen to make mistakes of covering some areas on your paper with watercolors, then you can retrieve those areas by adding white color paints or even using masking fluid on your next painting sessions.
When you are scumbling, avoid using different types of painting medium and just use plain paints or colors for the areas that you need to enhance or highlights. There are different and beneficial ways on how you can use the scumbling technique to your painting or artwork. It is just a matter of experimentations and exposure to fully understand the nature and benefits of this painting technique.
There are different ways artists of every generation had used this painting technique and by distinctive and small details to how each artist used this can you truly see the different ways. If you have time to walk or go on the next art exhibit next to you or any museum will help you distinguish the effects and results for this painting medium. You can start working with samples to start understanding this process and later on try working to improve your skills with the painting technique.
There are ways on how you can scumble with broken colors and transform them with an optical illusion of colors and highlights that create a unique style. Landscapes, seascapes, and atmospheric view and effects are some of the results you can create with scumbling technique. There is still a lot of different painting technique and style to work on with and explore with. It is just how you wanted to expand your horizons in the world of art to gain more knowledge of the different painting styles and techniques. With the right knowledge for all the elements of arts and the way you use them with the right principles of arts and its composition, then surely, you can make a unique artwork that is built by your own style into this dynamic world of colors and inspiration.
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