What is "vitralism"

Multiple artists have used the Vitralism art movement in the last 10 years, see Flickr group.

Vitralism is 21st-century art movement that uses broken color (similar to Impressionism) and line extension to achieve a " stained glass" look and effect. Light and dark colors are painted in many layers with round sponges (the kind used for a stencil) giving the broken color a transparent quality that simulates the light through a stained glass window. see example painting. The background is done entirely with sponges. The subject may or may not be painted with sponges; brushes are used to paint the subject to create texture contrast.

Line extensions contribute to integrate the painted subject with its background. Acrylic paints are the preferred medium for its fast-drying quality, which prevents the mixing of colors on the canvas and keeps the colors almost pure and separated.

Here are several photos of paintings created using this method

The name Vitralism comes from the Spanish word "Vitral" which means stained-glass. The word vitral comes from the Latin root Vitrum, which means glass.