Which painting method allows the artist to paint directly onto the canvas in one go?

The method that allows an artist to paint directly onto the canvas in one go is known as Alla Prima. This approach involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface, enabling the artist to achieve a spontaneous and direct technique. Alla Prima can result in a fresh and dynamic quality, as it captures the immediacy of the moment, allowing for a more expressive application of color and form.

Fresco, on the other hand, involves painting on fresh, wet plaster, which requires careful planning and cannot typically be done in one go due to the constraints of working with the plaster drying. Impasto refers to the technique of applying paint thickly so that it stands out from the surface, which can be used within various methods, including alla prima, but isn’t specifically about the one-stroke application to the canvas. Pointillism involves using dots of color applied separately, which is a meticulous technique that cannot be completed in one go and typically requires layering and time.

Thus, Alla Prima is uniquely characterized by its immediacy and revelatory process, making it distinct among painting methods.