maalimise

Maalimise is the Estonian term for the act or process of painting. It covers creating artworks on surfaces such as canvas or panels, as well as decorative or applied painting on walls, furniture, and architecture. As a broad practice, maalimine spans fine art painting, mural work, and commercial or decorative painting, and it is used in both creative and utilitarian contexts. The word derives from maali, meaning painting, with the -mise form indicating the activity.

Practically, maalimise involves choosing media, supports, and methods appropriate to the work. Common media include oils, acrylics, watercolors, tempera, and fresco for suitable surfaces. Supports range from traditional canvas and wood panels to walls, plaster, and other substrates. Tools such as brushes, spatulas, rollers, and spray devices are used, and techniques include layering, glazing, underpainting, impasto, wet-on-wet, and dry-brush work. Preparatory steps often include surface cleaning, priming, and sometimes sketching an underdrawing. Protective varnishes or sealants are applied to finished pieces in many contexts.

Historically, maalimine has evolved with artistic movements and technology, from early pictorial marks to modern studio and public art practices. In Estonia and elsewhere, it intersects with folk decoration, architectural finishing, and restoration work, reflecting broader visual culture and material traditions. The term remains primarily descriptive, denoting the activity itself rather than a single style or school.