The impasto painting technique involves varying the thickness and texture of paint on the canvas. Van Gough utilized these techniques to evoke certain emotions.

Oil and acrylic paints dominate impasto for the simple reason that straight out of the tube they are already very thick. Their viscosity naturally allows the paint to stand out from the surface. Simply put, the more paint applied the more it raises off the canvas. The painting surface needs to be somewhat rigid and non porous.