25 Different Types of Painting Techniques and Styles

Painting comes in various forms: it involves using brushes to apply colors in a specific manner to create art. Paintings can be executed on a wide range of surfaces, whether digitally (on computers) or manually using paints and brushes. There is a diverse array of painting materials available, such as sand, paper, clay, and more. Artists are not limited to specific mediums or materials, as painting is a continuously evolving process driven by creativity. While there are numerous painting styles, the modern approach is particularly popular, enabling artists to express their ideas on canvas through a blend of modernism, abstract, and surreal techniques. Styles like abstract art, conceptual art, Hyperrealism, pop art, Futurism, and Impressionism offer artists a variety of options to either focus on a single style or combine different styles.

Types of Painting Techniques

• Oil painting

• Watercolor painting

• Pastel painting

• Acrylic painting

• Digital painting

• Ink wash Painting or Literati painting - Chinese black ink

• Hot wax painting or Encaustic painting

• Spray Painting

• Fresco secco paintings - wall painting technique

• Gouache - opaque watercolor medium

• Enamel paintings

• Tempera paintings (are very long lasting)

• Sand Painting.. etc

  
  

1. Oil painting can pose challenges for novices, but it is adaptable to various styles. Working with the smooth texture of paint and enjoying its pleasant scent are some of its perks. The use of drying oil as a binder gives oil paint its delightful buttery feel. Commonly used drying oils include walnut oil, linseed oil, and poppy seed oil, among others. Although Indian and Chinese artists were the first to experiment with oil painting in the 5th century, it only gained popularity in the 15th century.

2. Watercolor painting is typically carried out on paper. In this particular painting technique, water-based solutions are used to mix colors, hence the name watercolor painting. Similar to oil painting, watercolor painting is also considered a challenging task. Nowadays, many artists are experimenting with creating realistic portraits using watercolors. The precise mixing of colors is crucial in this process, as an excess of any color can alter the shade of the colors.

3. Pastel painting. Pastel sticks are commonly employed in creating pastel paintings. With pastel sticks, you can immediately begin drawing and coloring, as they contain the same binding pigments as other paints, but in a powdered form that is bound together using a binding agent and are pre-made. For vibrant and rich colors, it is highly recommended to use pastel sticks. Pastel paintings can be done on canvas, allowing for beautiful layering of colors with pastels.

4. Acrylic painting: If you need a painting that dries quickly, acrylic painting is the ideal choice. These paints are water-soluble, but once the painting is finished, it becomes water-resistant. Isn't that an interesting fact? Many hobbyists enjoy working with acrylic paints. Acrylic painting is commonly used for sculptures, molding, and facial features by numerous artists. Cleaning brushes after use is easier since acrylic paints can be washed off with just water.

5. Digital painting involves creating artwork on a computer to mimic the appearance of watercolor, oil, or acrylic paintings. There are significant differences between digitally created and manually painted oil paintings, as digital artists have access to various textures and tools readily available on the computer. You can create art without worrying about spills or standing for long periods. You can work on your art comfortably from the convenience of your home.

6. Sand painting can be messy and is a temporary form of art. Recording sand painting on video with time-lapse can provide insight into the artist's process. Typically done in low light, a focused light is placed under the table where the sand painting is being created. Colored sands are used to create sand paintings, which are manipulated on a fixed surface using hands. This art form is practiced in various countries and is known by different names; in India, it is called kolam or rangoli.

7. Texture painting - Adding Texture to Paintings. The visible brush strokes in a painting are often admired for the dramatic effect they create. Texture paintings are commonly associated with oil paints, as acrylic paints tend to lose their texture once they dry. However, oil paints can be costly, so acrylic impasto can be used as a cost-effective alternative for achieving textured effects. In addition to traditional paint brushes, flat knives, and other blunt tools are utilized to create texture paintings.

8. Matte painting is commonly used to create beautiful landscapes in the film and video game industry. In film production, large sets are often built based on finalized matte paintings of locations. In cases where building elaborate environments like fairytales or sci-fi scenes is too costly, matte paintings are used as background screens and then integrated with other footage.

9. Spray Painting is typically applied using a spray bottle to achieve the desired outcomes. Spray paints are commonly used on various surfaces such as streets for street art, graffiti, canvas, wood, metal, glass, ceramic, and more. When a large area of canvas needs to be covered with the same color, spray painting is employed for a quicker completion.

10. Graffiti Art is predominantly created on public buildings, with or without permission. Graffiti is not necessarily intended to be comprehensible by the general public; it is a form of writing or drawing/scribbling that lacks a definitive meaning. The first graffiti artist emerged in 1967 as a high school student who wrote on walls to attract the attention of his crush. By the 1980s, graffiti had evolved into a recognized painting technique, with many artists using public walls as platforms to showcase their talents.

11. Ink Wash Painting or Literati painting - Chinese black ink. Ink Wash Painting is also referred to as Literati Painting. These artworks are created using Chinese black ink, which is widely popular in Asia due to its common use in calligraphy. By adding water to the black ink, different shades of black can be achieved to meet the desired consistency.

12. Hot Wax Painting or Encaustic paintingHot Wax Painting is also known as Encaustic painting. This technique involves melting beeswax and mixing it with color pigments. Cold wax and hot beeswax are both utilized in this method, typically applied on a wooden canvas for creating Encaustic paintings.

13. Fresco secco paintings - Wall painting techniqueFresco secco paintings are typically executed on freshly prepared lime plaster. The color pigments are mixed with a water solution and applied directly onto the lime plaster, resulting in a permanent painting. This painting technique has been in existence since the Renaissance era, with examples visible on the walls and ceilings of the Vatican.

14. Gouache - opaque watercolor mediumGouache is an opaque watercolor medium that is used in combination with other binding agents for artistic creations. To achieve opacity in the Gouache technique, white chalk or white color is added to the watercolor mixture. Gouache cannot be directly applied to canvas due to poor adhesion; if you intend to use it on canvas, acrylic pigments must be mixed in. Be cautious not to dilute the acrylic colors excessively, as this may alter the desired appearance of the paintings.

15. Tempera paintings - Long Lasting PaintingTempera paintings, also known as egg tempera art, are characterized by their fast-drying nature and long-lasting paint quality. Egg yolks are commonly used as a binding medium with the paints, which contributes to their quick drying time due to their high glutinous content. This technique is one of the oldest known in painting. In some cases, gums, glycerin, or casein are used as binding agents instead of eggs, mixed with water and colors.

16. Enamel paintings - Art with Enamel PaintEnamel paintings acquire a glossy or shiny appearance once they have completely dried.

17. Drip Painting - Paint DripsAs the name implies, drip paintings are created by dripping paint onto the canvas.

18. Underpainting - Layer PaintingA base layer of paint is applied to the canvas, followed by additional layers of colors to create beautiful underpaintings.

19. Panel Painting - Multiple Parts PaintingPanel paintings are produced on multiple wooden panels that are later joined together.

20. Velvet Painting - Art created on Velvet MaterialVelvet paintings are typically done on a piece of velvet fabric. 

21. Leaf Painting - Art made with leavesA painting done on a leaf or using paintings to create leaf shapes is referred to as leaf painting.

22. Reverse Glass Painting - Glass PaintingReverse glass painting involves applying paint on glass, with the image visible when looking through the glass. 

23. Miniature Painting - Small-Scale Paintings Miniature paintings are small, handmade artworks.

24. Action Painting - Dynamic, Direct Brushstrokes. Action Painting is a rapid, spontaneous form of painting characterized by direct brushstrokes on the canvas. The paint drips create a captivating effect.

25.Anamorphosis - Anamorphosis is a form of perspective painting.