impasto

Why impasto grabs attention — the thick paint creates actual shadows and highlights on the canvas surface, making the image feel alive and dimensional. Use it when you want the viewer to sense the artist's hand.
A beginner's pitfall — don't overmix colors on the palette. Impasto works best with pure, unmixed paint from the tube; blending too much turns the texture into a muddy mess. Instead, let two or three clear hues sit side by side — the eye will mix them optically.