Oil Painting - Frottage
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Frottage is a technique where textured surfaces are used to transfer their patterns onto the canvas. This method adds organic and unexpected shapes and marks.
Frottage was first credited to Max Ernst in drawings made from 1925. He used a variety of textured surfaces in his surrealist works and adapted the technique to oil painting, calling it grattage (the French word for ‘scraping’).
By layering and rubbing paint over different materials like fabric, wood grain, or paper, artists can create complex visual effects. Frottage is an excellent way to incorporate texture into oil paintings. Explore the materials and techniques needed to experiment with frottage.
