noun
impasto
im-PAS-toh/ɪmˈpæstəʊ/
A painting technique using thickly applied paint to create a raised texture.
The painting's impasto forms raised ridges of thick, overlapping color.
Etymology
The image is of making or putting something into paste. In painting, this became laying color on thickly, so the paint retains a substantial, paste-like texture.
In context
rather he's giving you the effect of feathers by layering beautiful thick impasto strokes one above the other no contours
More examples
- Light from the window catches the ridges created by impasto.
- She experiments with impasto, spreading thick paint with a palette knife.
- The portrait combines smooth shadows with bold impasto highlights.