Creating movement with bold brushwork and broken colour. What a lot of paintings lack is movement. Find out how to use bold impressionistic brushwork combined with shimmering broken colour to produce movement in your paintings. In this project we only use two brushes and six colours – nice and simple. Enjoy!
Step 5Brushes and Mediums
What brushes are used in this hay bale painting?
In this hay bale painting, Richard uses two long bristled synthetic brushes from Rosemary & Co. These brushes are chosen to help convey the movement and gestural quality desired in the painting. For more details on the materials used, you can visit the lesson's sales page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/59-Hay-Bales.
Why is no painting medium used in this painting?
No painting medium is used in this painting because Richard wants to achieve really thick gestural brushwork. Using a painting medium tends to flatten out the brushwork, which would detract from the desired effect of movement and texture. You can explore more about this technique on the sales page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/59-Hay-Bales.
What is the purpose of using Gamsol in this painting?
Gamsol is used in this painting as a solvent, likely to clean brushes or thin the paint slightly without affecting the thickness of the brushwork. Richard aims to maintain thick, gestural strokes, so Gamsol is a suitable choice for this purpose. To learn more about the materials and techniques, check out the sales page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/59-Hay-Bales.
Summary & key takeaways
As I reflect on our journey through painting the Hay Bales, I'm reminded of the importance of capturing the essence of a scene, both in its immediate visual appeal and its deeper color dynamics. From the initial block-in to the final details, my aim was to guide you in expressing movement and vibrancy through thoughtful brushwork and color choices. I hope you found joy in exploring how to convey the energy of the wind and the warmth of the landscape.
Throughout this lesson, we delved into the subtleties of brushwork and the impact it can have on the life of a painting. By preparing our canvas with care and sketching with precision, we laid a strong foundation for our creative expression. The choices we made in color mixing and shadow placement were all about enhancing the depth and interest of our composition. I trust that these techniques will empower you to create more dynamic and engaging paintings.
Remember, painting is as much about personal preference as it is about technique. Whether you choose to depict brown or green grass, or how you decide to balance light and shadow, these decisions are what make your artwork uniquely yours. I hope this lesson has inspired you to embrace your creative choices and continue to explore the endless possibilities of painting.
Points to remember
- Capture the scene's essence with both immediate visual appeal and color dynamics.
- Use brushwork to convey movement and guide the viewer's eye.
- Prepare your canvas with gesso for better paint adhesion.
- Sketch lightly with an HB pencil for accurate outlines.
- Block in darks first to establish structure and contrast.
- Mix vibrant shadow colors to add depth and warmth.
- Use color variations to enhance composition interest.
- Balance light and shadow to create dynamic compositions.
