wet-on-wet

Wet-on-wet, also known as Wet-in-wet, is a painting technique in which layers of wet paint are applied to previous layers of wet paint. This technique requires a fast way of working, because the art work has to be finished before the first layers have dried.

Wet-on-wet painting goes right back to the origins of oil painting, and was used by several of the best Early Netherlandish painters in parts of their pictures, such as Jan van Eyck in the Arnolfini portrait, and Rogier van der Weyden.^[1] In traditional painting methods new layers were applied to most parts of a painting only after allowing the previous layer to completely dry. This drying process could vary from several days to several weeks, depending on the thickness of the layer.

From about the period of Impressionism painters preferred a faster way of painting. Claude Monet for instance, but also a painter like Vincent van Gogh, often finished their paintings within one day.

Nowadays wet-on-wet painting has become well-known as being the primary method of painting used by Bob Ross. Since lighter colors will usually mix with darker colors if laid over top of them while wet, the technique relies on painting from light colors up. This gives the painting a soft look, and allows the colors to be blended to the painter's desire. Due the fact that no drying period is required, full paintings can be produced in a short period of time – Ross could produce an entire landscape in under half an hour on his television show, The Joy of Painting.