According to the National Assembly of State Art Agencies, artists are over 3.5 times more likely to be self-employed than those in other industries. Being self-employed means having the freedom to try different things in art, including different brushstrokes. Whether you’re an aspiring professional artist or have just started an online painting class, these brush strokes can help bring your paintings to life.
A dry brush stroke is when the brush has minimal paint and pressure applied while making a stroke. This is a great technique to use when creating texture in your painting, as it creates a grainy look that can be used to simulate plants, fur, and skin textures. Dry brush strokes are also effective for backgrounds when the painter wants an aged or rustic look.
This type of brush stroke involves applying paint onto a dry surface like canvas or paper. The result is generally sharp and predictable lines of color. This technique works well for still-life paintings with crisp edges, as you can control exactly how much paint is applied to each area.
This type of brush stroke works best with watercolor paints, where the artist applies paint onto a wet surface. This technique encourages the pigments to blend together for a dreamy and misty muddled look. It’s perfect for creating soft abstracts and landscapes.
Glazing is when you layer one color over another by mixing semi-transparent washes or glazes into each other. This creates a smooth gradient effect that can be used to achieve depth in your painting or create interesting effects like sunsets and reflections.
This technique involves using a dry brush to add texture and detail to your painting. The brush is dragged lightly across the surface, leaving behind streaks of color that can be used to create fur, grass, or other textures.
The impressionists used a type of brushstroke known as “broken color,” which involves using different colors and values side by side. This creates an optical blend that gives the painting an almost vibrating effect. Impressionist paintings often have a shimmery quality because of this technique.
By using these brushstrokes in an online painting class, at home, or elsewhere, you can create unique pieces of art that reflect your individual style. Consider enrolling in an online painting class or picking up some painting supplies and trying out one of these techniques.
