Scumbling

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A technique in painting where a layer of color is applied in a broken way to create a soft, textured effect on the surface
2. The process of applying a mixture of pigment and medium in a loose fashion to enhance depth or luminosity in artwork
3. An artistic method involving the use of a dry brush to drag color across a canvas, producing a subtle haze or atmospheric quality

Etymology: Painters use this technique to soften a colour that would otherwise look harsh. Thin, broken strokes of paint are dragged lightly across a layer that has already dried, so the colour underneath shows through in a hazy, textured way. The name likely comes from "scum," the thin film that forms on the surface of a liquid, which suits a layer laid thinly over the top of another.

Synonyms: blurring, smudging, fading, softening, shading