Which type of painting is associated with applying pigment in thick layers?

Impasto is a painting technique that involves applying pigment in thick layers, allowing the brush or palette knife strokes to be visible. This method creates a textured surface that can produce dramatic effects in light and shadow, giving the painting a sense of dimensionality and vitality.

Artists often choose to work in impasto to evoke emotion, create movement, or enhance the visual interest of the piece. The thickness of the paint also affects its drying time and can influence the final appearance of the artwork, as the paint can retain its shape and create a sculptural effect.

Other painting techniques such as acrylic or watercolor do not focus on thickness; acrylics can be used in a variety of ways, but they are not intrinsically associated with heavy applications. Watercolor is primarily known for its fluidity and transparency, which contrasts sharply with the impasto technique. Encaustic painting involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added, but it doesn't specifically refer to the thickness of the paint application in the same way that impasto does.