The best brushwork is that which describes the subject with the least amount of effort. This means that each brushstroke must make a contribution to the description of your subject, rather than being applied randomly. This has two advantages: your painting gains strength since the visual field is simplified into broader shapes of a single color and value, and you can paint more quickly and so are in a better position to capture changing subject matter more accurately and more true to nature.

When you are learning how to create good brushstrokes, use larger brushes (sizes 12, 10, and 8) to cover most of the canvas, and use smaller brushes only for detail work.

In this course unit

This unit focuses on showing you how to use brushwork to say more with less – the critical factor in developing interesting brushwork and in improving the abstract quality of your paintings. You will learn:

• how to improve the three-dimensional quality of your paintings using directional brushstrokes
• how to create and simulate texture
• how to convey the impression of movement
• how and why brushwork establishes the emotional mood of a painting
• how to use brushwork to communicate perspective in painting
• why speed is important in helping you develop your own individual brushwork, and how to use it

Total number of assignments: 6

Total number of pages: 20