What defines the "painterly" style of application?

The painterly style is characterized by visible brush strokes and a loose application of paint, which emphasizes the texture and the physicality of the medium. This technique often results in a sense of movement and expressiveness within the artwork, allowing the artist’s hand and gestural technique to be evident. The focus is on the act of painting itself, rather than creating a seamless surface or detailed rendering.

In this style, the artist embraces the medium's properties, using it in a way that celebrates its qualities, such as translucency, layering, and the interactions between colors. This approach contrasts with more controlled and detailed brushwork that defines styles emphasizing realism and precision, or with flat, smooth surfaces that do not showcase texture. Bold colors in heavy layers could be a part of a painterly approach, but the defining feature is predominately the loose application and visibility of brush strokes.