The term ‘impasto’ describes a technique used in painting where medium/paint is laid on thickly to give a work texture resulting in an almost three-dimensional effect. It is often accomplished with mediums such as acrylic, oil or gouache.
Rebecca often incorporates the technique of impasto applied with palette knives as a part of her practice. Many of her series over the past 20 years have been devoted to this technique.
Tension is created by the contrast between flat areas of paint devoid of brushstrokes against mountains of medium, Rebecca’s love of overtly layered texture is easily recognisable. These opposing surfaces draw further attention to shadow through areas of light and dark created not so much by colour but by the density of product.
Colour and texture are paramount to Rebecca’s practice. Contrasting depth, colour and diversity of medium is strikingly evident in her paintings as well as in her three-dimensional works.
Rebecca believes the often-jarring effect created by harnessing opposing, conflicting and unexpected combinations, can create a palpable energy eliciting the response by the viewer to engage on a tactile level.
Areas of high energy within a work can be enhanced by countering with sections that are tamed and offer calm and respite.
The use of palette knives and brick layer’s trowels as tools are integral to Rebecca’s art practice.
The range of knives extends from the tiny and delicate through to those used on building sites by bricklayers and plasterers.
The size and length of a palette knife provides an indication of just how much medium can be trawled across a canvas or board in one movement.
Very small palette knives with pointed tips are used to detail and scrape.
