Which painting technique allows the existing paint below to remain exposed?

Scumbling is a painting technique where a thin, opaque layer of paint is brushed over a dried layer of paint, allowing some of the underlying color and texture to show through. This method creates a sense of depth and richness in the artwork, as the different layers interact, enhancing the visual complexity and dynamics of the piece. Artists often use scumbling to add highlights or to soften edges in their work, making it an expressive approach in oil and acrylic painting.

In contrast, the other techniques do not inherently allow for the exposure of underlying paint in the same way. Oblique refers more to an angle or perspective in composition rather than a specific painting technique. Distressing often involves techniques to create a worn or aged appearance, typically obscuring the layers underneath rather than revealing them. Acrylic primer is a preparatory layer applied before painting, meant to create a smooth surface for the final paint application, rather than a technique for applying paint in a way that exposes layers beneath.