Wash
Wash , also Lavur (from Italian lavare , wash, wipe, cf. Lavoir , wash bowl) is a painting technique in which paint is applied in a very thin consistency. This creates a translucent color surface. Lavieren primarily refers to a high proportion of aqueous and other volatile solvents with a low proportion of binder . The same technique in film-forming layers (oil, tempera ) is glazing .
Lavur is used:
- in watercolor painting to achieve smooth transitions. The colors are diluted and applied with a damp brush . Due to the quick painting style of the watercolor, in which the paint does not dry out, the entire watercolor technique (from Italian / Latin aqua "water") can be seen as a wash technique. Nevertheless, degrees between rather dry and extreme wet-on-wet technology are possible.
- when coloring with very thinly applied watercolors , whereby the drawing remains visible
- as shading of line drawings
- as the central technique of Sino-Korean-Japanese ink painting
As with East Asian ink types, one of the most important properties of pigments is their ability to be glazed ( i.e. the non-opaque application): It determines whether the pigment is suitable for washes. In general, dyes can be easily glazed. In addition, a lavurable colorant has to offer even color application even in high dilution: Many pigments tend to have an unpleasant spotty appearance, especially with a high proportion of aqueous solvents. Therefore, the range of colorants for watercolor painting is severely limited. High-quality inks, especially from Asia, are correspondingly expensive.
The typographical transfer of watercolors or washed ink drawings with the aquatint technique is called etching .
