The Artist - UK (2021-04)

46 artistApril 2021 http://www.painters-online.co.uk

OIL PAINTING MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES: 3RD OF 4

S

cumbling and glazing are two

traditional techniques that will

increase the visual interest

in an oil painting; both were

used extensively by JMW Turner but

they are as relevant today as they

were then. They can, if used correctly

and selectively, help to create greater

interest in a painting, and aren’t too

Scumbling and

glazing

This month Alan Bickley focuses on a few traditional techniques

that will help to add interest to your oil paintings

difficult to master with a bit of practice.

Scumbling

Scumbling is a dry and broken

application of paint that involves

dragging fairly dry and sticky paint

over an existing layer of (preferably)

dry colour. It’s generally more effective

optically if you scumble a lighter colour

over a darker one, and a warm colour

over cool, although this doesn’t have to

be the case.

The result will leave the lower area

of colour exposed – complementary

colours work particularly well. If

necessary, you can add your paint to

a piece of absorbent material such as

unwaxed cardboard; any surplus oils

will leach out to give a drier consistency

of paint that will drag over the surface

and break up far more easily.

Use a large flat brush – I find that a

stiff hog bristle brush works well – then

lightly drag your loaded brush across

the area to be scumbled, keeping it

fairly flat to the canvas. A painting knife

will also give you some interesting

textures, and you can thicken your oil

paint with a pinch or two of chalk dust if

you find that it’s too wet.

Glazing

The second of these useful techniques

is glazing, which is often used in

combination with scumbling – these

two techniques complement each

other rather well. Glazing is a method

t This close-up shows how scumbling can

be used for sky and land