Impasto + Oil Questions?

Hello!

Your original assumption that impasto just meant painting thickly is correct. Gel "impasto" mediums are simply alkyd products you can add to your paint mixtures to change the viscosity and drying time while maintaining its oily sheen.

I'm partial to Gamblin products because they are inexpensive and high quality. Of the impasto mediums they offer, I have used G-Gel, Neo-Megilp, Solvent-free Gel, and Cold Wax Medium.

G-Gel - creates a smoother texture that maintains bristle marks as it dires. A "stiffer" gel medium. Dries in about a day.

Neo Megilp - creates a silky texture that holds the brush stroke's volume, but smooths out the brush strokes (creates an effect most similar to Van Gogh's smooth impasto). Dries in about a day.

Solvent Free Gel - I've only used this once, it's new -- seems like it's in-between G-Gel and Neo-Megilp in terms of how it functions within the paint. Dries more slowly (3-4 days)

Cold Wax - Creates a stiff paint mixture that holds the brushstroke. Makes the finish appear matte. Should only be used thickly on rigid surfaces (like panels), as it does not dry very flexible. Doesn't seem to have a huge effect on drying time.

Van Gogh didn't have access to alkyds, which weren't invented until quite a bit later. His impasto was probably created with a medium of thickened linseed oil and mineral spirits.

I didn't watch the entire youtube video. The artist wasn't painting very thickly from what I saw, and I couldn't tell if she was using a gel medium or not. I would guess that she wasn't.

Impasto is literally just painting with thick daubs of paint, like Van Gogh's work I believe that you can also paint using the impasto technique with mediums like acrylic too, not just oil.

And you're correct in saying that Van Gogh used large amounts of paint, not necessarily gel, and he would've just waited a long time for it to dry (sometimes he used such thick quantities of paint that some art historians think that some of his paintings still aren't fully dry)

I think that the impasto gel that you can buy is just a faster drying paint.

I think he used the paint. I can't afford to use that much paint so I use the gel.