Summary:
The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of oil painting techniques on the expressiveness of oil painting and its application. By analyzing the different techniques of oil painting, including brushstroke, use of color, and composition, and their embodiment in different art genres, we find that the choice and application of techniques largely determine the visual effect and emotional expression of oil painting. This article reviews the choice of techniques of famous painters in various periods and their influence on future generations, and explores how technique innovation can promote the development of personal style.
I. Introduction
As a visual art form with rich expressive power, oil painting's unique technical and artistic nature constitute its core aesthetic value. Oil painting technique not only refers to the technique of painting on canvas with oil paint, but also includes the mixing of colors, the construction of layers, the grasp of light and shadow, and the overall composition of the picture. The application of each technique can affect the emotional communication and visual impact of the work to varying degrees, thus giving the oil painting a unique artistic language and expressiveness.
II. Overview of Oil Painting Techniques
A. Classification and characteristics of oil painting techniques
According to the characteristics and application methods of oil painting techniques in the creative process, they can be roughly divided into the following categories:
Wet-on-wet: Wet-on-wet is a commonly used oil painting technique characterized by the direct application of oil-based pigments to a wet canvas, allowing the pigments to mix and flow freely. This technique is suitable for creating rich color effects and soft transitions, and is often used to depict natural objects such as landscapes, skies, and water.
Dry brush: In contrast to wet painting, dry painting is a technique that adds less media to the canvas or uses paint to dry directly. The artist uses a dry brush or cloth to lightly apply to the canvas to reveal delicate textures and lines. This technique is often used to paint highly detailed objects and portraits, with accurate representation of form and texture.
Rubbing (stippling): Rubbing is a technique that expresses images and textures through a combination of points, lines, and surfaces. Using the tip of a pen or brush, the artist touches the canvas and gradually builds up the paint in the form of dots, resulting in subtle patterns and light effects. This technique is suitable for depicting delicate textures and complex changes in light and shadow, and is often used in still life and portraiture.
Scumbling: Scratching is a technique in which you create soft color transitions and textures by gently applying and rubbing paint on the canvas. Using tools such as a brush, scraper or cloth, the artist can evenly apply the paint to the canvas and then apply and rub it with gentle strokes to achieve a change in color and layering.
B. The Historical Development and Evolution of Oil Painting Techniques
The development of oil painting techniques can be traced back to ancient times, but its true maturity and popularity came during the Renaissance. Renaissance artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, made the art of oil painting develop rapidly through the study and innovation of oil painting techniques, and became an important milestone in the history of Western painting.
With the changes of the times and the change of artistic style, oil painting techniques have also continued to develop and evolve. During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, Dutch painters created many excellent oil paintings through exquisite techniques and delicate observations, including still lifes, landscapes, customs and other subjects. During the Rococo period of the 18th century, oil painting techniques emphasized the pursuit of color and ornamentation, and artists used rich decorative elements on canvas to create elegant and exquisite works of art.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the rise of the Impressionist movement had a profound impact on oil painting techniques. Instead of pursuing traditional fine realism, the Impressionist artists focused on capturing the light, shadow and emotional experience of the moment, and they adopted more free and intuitive techniques, such as rapid sketching and color segmentation, thus opening up a new path for later generations of artistic practice.
After the 20th century, with the rise of modernism and contemporary art, the application of oil painting techniques became more extensive and diverse. Artists are constantly trying and innovating various techniques, such as the dripping paint technique in Abstract Expressionism and the collage technique in Cubism, which make the art of oil painting present a richer and more diverse appearance.
III. The Influence of Oil Painting Techniques on Expressiveness
A. Use of color and emotional expression
Color is an important part of the expressive power of oil painting, and different oil painting techniques have a profound impact on the use and expression of color. In oil painting, the artist can create a colorful, softly transitioning color effect through the mixing and flow of wet painting, so as to express a wealth of emotions and emotions.
For example, when depicting tranquil natural landscapes, artists can use wet painting to superimpose different colors to express the tranquility and harmony of nature, while when depicting fierce war scenes, they can use chiaroscuro and vivid color contrasts to enhance the tension and dynamics of war. In addition, techniques such as rubbing and scraping can also create rich and varied color effects through the combination of dots, lines and surfaces, thus further enriching the emotional expression and artistic appeal of oil paintings.
B. Light and shadow processing and spatial modeling
Light and shadow are one of the important means of expression in oil painting, and different oil painting techniques have different influences on the processing of light and shadow and the shaping of the sense of space. In oil painting, the artist can create soft light and shadow transitions and texture effects through gentle smearing and rubbing by scraping the painting method, so as to make the work present a more three-dimensional and realistic sense of space.
For example, when depicting a building or still life, an artist can use the scraping method to evenly apply paint to the canvas, and then apply and wipe it with gentle strokes to express the light and shadow changes and texture characteristics of the object's surface. When depicting portraits, you can use the layer-by-layer superposition of wet painting and the fine depiction of dry painting to show the smoothness and delicacy of the character's skin, so as to enhance the three-dimensional sense and expressiveness of the work.
C. Use of lines and form expression
Line is an important means of expressing form and structure in oil painting, and different oil painting techniques have different influences on the use of line and form expression. In the creation of oil painting, the artist can create a rich variety of line effects through the combination of points, lines and surfaces of rubbing, so as to make the work present a more vivid and three-dimensional form.
For example, when depicting plants or animals, artists can use rubbing to tap paint onto the canvas to gradually accumulate the texture and details of plant leaves or animal hair, thereby enhancing the natural realism and artistic expression of the work. When depicting people or still lifes, you can use the fine depiction of dry painting and the gentle application of scraping to express the contours and structure of the figures or objects, so as to make the work more accurate and three-dimensional.
D. Texture expression and visual effect
Texture is one of the important elements of expression in oil painting, and different oil painting techniques have different effects on the expression and perception of texture. In the creation of oil paintings, the artist can create soft texture transitions and texture effects through the gentle application and rubbing of the scraping method, so as to make the work present a richer and more realistic visual effect.
For example, when depicting cloth or leather, the artist can use the scraping method to evenly apply the paint to the canvas, and then apply and wipe it gently to express the softness and luster of the cloth or leather, thereby enhancing the look and feel of the work. When depicting metal or glass, you can use the layer-by-layer superposition of wet painting and the fine depiction of dry painting to show the smoothness and transparency of metal or glass, so as to make the work more vivid and three-dimensional.
IV. The specific application of oil painting techniques in the creation of oil painting
A. Still Life Sketching and Sketching Training
Still life sketching is a common training method in oil painting, which can help artists develop their observation, composition ability and line expression ability by observing real still life and using sketching techniques to paint. In the process of still life sketching, artists can use techniques such as rubbing and scraping to express the shape, texture, and light and shadow changes of still life.
For example, when drawing a fruit basket, the artist can first use rubbing to outline the outline and structure of the basket, and then use scratching to express the details and texture of the basket's surface, such as the wood grain and luster of the basket. Through still life sketching and sketching training, artists can gradually become familiar with the use of oil painting techniques and improve their painting skills and expressive ability.
B. Use of color in landscape creation
Landscape is one of the common themes in oil painting, and the use of color is an important means to express the charm and emotion of landscape. In landscape creation, artists can use a variety of colors through techniques such as wet painting and rubbing to express the magnificence and changes of natural landscapes.
For example, when painting a landscape painting, the artist can use wet painting to layer different colors to express the distance and height of the mountains, and at the same time use rubbing to outline the details of trees and water surfaces to enhance the layering and three-dimensional sense of the picture. Through a clever combination of colours, artists can make their works more vivid and appealing.
C. Light and shadow manipulation in portraits
Portrait is one of the common subjects in oil painting, and the treatment of light and shadow is the key to express the shape and temperament of the figure. In the creation of portraits, artists can use techniques such as dry painting and scraping to use chiaroscuro and soft transitions to express the smoothness and delicacy of the character's skin, and at the same time use the scraping method to outline the contours and facial features of the characters.
For example, when painting a portrait of a woman, the artist can use the dry painting method to depict the contours and facial features of the woman's face, and then use the scraping method to express the light and shadow changes and texture characteristics of the face, so as to make the portrait more lifelike. Through the delicate use of light and shadow, artists can make portraits more vivid and emotional.
D. A combination of abstract expressionism and oil painting techniques
Abstract Expressionism is an artistic style that attaches great importance to emotional expression and formal abstraction, and the flexible use of oil painting techniques can provide rich means of expression for Abstract Expressionism. In Abstract Expressionism, artists can use a variety of colors and lines to express inner emotions and abstract forms through techniques such as wet painting and scraping.
For example, when creating an abstract work, the artist can use wet painting to layer different colors to express the ups and downs and changes of emotions, and at the same time, use scratching to create the texture and form of lines to enhance the abstraction and expressiveness of the work. Through the combination of oil painting techniques and abstract expressionism, artists can create works of art full of personality and connotation, thus enriching the expression and artistic connotation of oil painting creation.
V. The shaping of oil painting style by oil painting techniques
A. Technique preferences and expressions in different genres
Different schools of oil painting have a significant influence on the preferences and forms of expression of techniques, and these preferences and forms shape their own unique stylistic characteristics. For example, Impressionist artists were more inclined to use wet painting and pointillism techniques to capture the instantaneous changes of natural light and shadow and the purity of colors, showing a hazy and blurry visual effect, such as Monet's "Impression Sunrise" is a typical work. The expressionist genre, on the other hand, paid more attention to the expression of emotions and inner world, often using rough brushstrokes and sharp contrasts to express inner conflict and unease, such as Van Gogh's "Starry Night" through exaggerated lines and colors to express the depth and uneasiness of his inner world.
B. Technique innovation and expressive style of famous oil painters
Many famous oil painters have created a unique style of expression through the innovation and application of techniques. For example, Picasso's Cubist works use techniques such as collage and three-dimensional composition, breaking with traditional visual expressions and showing multiple perspectives on objects and a sense of spatial fragmentation, such as "Argument and Peace", which shows the contrast and conflict between war and peace. Dalí, on the other hand, fuses dreams and reality through surrealist technical innovations to create surrealist fantasy worlds, such as "The Eternity of Memory", which expresses the chaos and passage of time and memory through blurred brushstrokes and bizarre compositions.
C. Choice of technique and stylistic characteristics of oil paintings
The choice of technique has a direct impact on the stylistic characteristics of oil paintings. For example, the wet painting method can create soft transitions and rich color gradations that give the work a more three-dimensional and vivid feel, while the dry painting method can bring out bold brushstrokes and sharp outlines, emphasizing the surface texture and structure of the work. In addition, the use of color is also an important factor in shaping the stylistic characteristics, such as the use of contrasts of warm and cold tones to create a very different atmosphere and mood, such as Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", which uses bright warm colors to express vitality and vitality.
VI. Conclusion
The choice of technique directly affects the expressiveness of oil paintings. Different techniques present different characteristics in terms of brushstrokes, colors, composition, etc., which affect the visual effect and emotional expression of the work.
Through the innovation and application of techniques, the famous oil painter has created a unique style of expression. Their works not only reflect their individual aesthetic pursuits, but also have a profound impact on the artistic creation of later generations.
Technique preferences and expressions in different genres shape their own unique stylistic characteristics. Impressionism, Expressionism, Cubism and other genres have obvious differences in the selection and application of techniques, showing different artistic pursuits and aesthetic orientations.
The development and innovation of techniques have provided new possibilities for the improvement of the expressive power of oil painting. With the progress of science and technology and the deepening of art theory, the research of oil painting techniques will be more diversified and forward-looking in the future.
Author: Lu Xilin
Bibliography:
Edwards, B. (2004). Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. TarcherPerigee.
Brommer, G. F. (1997). Exploring Painting. Davis Publications.
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