dauber

Dauber is a term that refers to a person who applies daub, a thick, wet mixture used to coat, fill, or decorate a surface. In construction, daubing is a traditional plastering technique in which a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and lime is hammered or slapped onto wattle or masonry to form a wall. The method, often paired with wattle or timber framing as wattle-and-daub, has ancient roots and has been used in many regions for centuries. In modern settings, daubing can also involve plaster repair or restoration, where the daub provides a base that seals and stabilizes underlying materials.

In art, daubing describes a technique of applying paint or pigment in a dabbing, stippled, or textural fashion. An artist who works in this manner may emphasize quick, rounded strokes to build form and surface texture. Daubing can be employed across media, including oil, acrylic, and fresco, and is valued for its tactile, expressive surface.

The term dauber can also appear in common use as a general noun for someone who does slapdash or careless work, often in a pejorative sense. Additionally, Dauber is a surname of Germanic origin, and various historical and contemporary individuals bearing the name have appeared in records, though the term itself primarily denotes the act of applying daub.