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 7Underpainting and Brushwork
What type of brush should I use for the impasto, chunky brushwork in the light areas?
For the impasto, chunky brushwork in the light areas, you should use a smaller brush. This allows you to add texture and detail over the top of your underpainting. To explore more about brushwork techniques, visit the lesson page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/59-Hay-Bales.
How do I decide what areas should be in shade and what should be in light?
To decide what areas should be in shade and what in light, observe your scene and make a conscious decision based on what you want to highlight or subdue. This helps in creating a dynamic composition. For more insights on light and shade in painting, check out the lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/59-Hay-Bales.
What color should I use to paint the shadows in the foreground?
For painting the shadows in the foreground, you can add a little bit of yellow ochre to achieve a vibrant shadow color. This choice helps in creating depth and warmth in the shadowed areas. To learn more about color choices in painting, visit the lesson page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/59-Hay-Bales.
Why is it important to think about brushwork during the underpainting stage?
Thinking about brushwork during the underpainting stage is important because it sets the foundation for the texture and directionality that will flow through to the next stages of your work. Even though the brushwork isn't very visible at this stage, planning it out can enhance the final painting. For more on planning your brushwork, see the lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/59-Hay-Bales.
Why did you choose to make the grass browner in the finished painting compared to the photograph?
I chose to make the grass browner in the finished painting because I personally prefer the look of brown grass. This artistic choice is subjective, and you can decide how green or brown you want your grass to be. For more on making creative choices in your paintings, visit 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.
