Which painting technique involves thickly laid paint to create texture and relief?

• A. Fresco
• B. Impasto
• C. Gesso
• D. Horizon line

Answer: (B)

The painting technique that uses thickly laid paint to create texture and relief is impasto. By applying paint in heavy layers with a brush or palette knife, the surface becomes sculptural—the ridges and peaks catch light and cast tiny shadows, giving the work a tactile, three-dimensional feel. This approach can heighten emotion and energy in a painting because the visible brushstrokes become part of the image itself.

Fresco, on the other hand, involves applying pigments to wet plaster, which bonds with the wall as it dries, usually resulting in a smoother, flatter surface rather than thick texture. Gesso is a primer used to prepare a surface for painting, not a texture technique. A horizon line is a compositional element that establishes eye level and depth, not a method for applying paint or creating texture.