Mastering Brushstrokes - Part 1

Dilution has an important role in painting, and can influence application, color, and value. In this lecture, we discuss the various aspects of dilution's influence.

Brush load refers to how much paint your brush is holding. Some brushstrokes can work with any brush load while others require specific amounts of paint. This lecture discusses the variables, giving visual examples.

Viscosity is basically a liquid's level of fluidity - it's resistance to flow. The more diluted a paint, the less viscose the paint. In this lecture, we discuss how viscosity effects paint application.

Whether your painting surface is wet or dry will have a huge impact on paint application, especially for artists working in water media. This lecture discusses the two surface options and how they can impact results.

How absorbent your surface is will also impact paint application. If a surface is absorbent, it will soak up more paint. If it's not, the paint will sit on the surface. In this lecture, we briefly discuss how this effects brushwork.

There are a few more brief topics we need to discuss before beginning the actual lessons. In this video, we go over a few things students need to know before practicing strokes at home or painting the object painting. Be sure you watch this first before trying the painting exercises. Note the attached resources after watching.

If you work with watercolors and you find that as you practice the various brushstrokes you're unable to achieve the right results, you may want to watch Bonus Section 10 where I show you first-hand how painting materials can impact watercolor results.

One of the most basic brushstrokes in a painter's repertoire is a glaze - a thin, transparent coat of paint. In this section, students learn about this versatile stroke and how it has been used by artists for centuries.

In this lecture, we discuss how to glaze using watercolor paints.

In this lecture we discuss how to glaze using oil paints.

Now that you've learned about glazing strokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice glazing at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes two helpful handouts.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only glazing brushstrokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a glazed version of your chosen image. I've included a TIPS sheet for this exercise - applicable to all of your future object paintings.

Now that you've learned about blended strokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice blending at home. I recommend using primarily one color for this exercise, with a second color available for part of the session. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only blended brushstrokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a blended version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about gradient strokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice gradients at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only gradient brushstrokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a gradient version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about pouring and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice pouring with watercolor paints at home. I recommend using two colors for this exercise. Includes a helpful handout.

Now that you've learned about pouring and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice pouring with oil paints at home. I recommend using two colors for this exercise. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only pouring techniques.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a poured or wet-in-wet version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about directly painted lines and marks and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice direct painting at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only directly painted lines and marks.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a directly painted version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about hatching and cross-hatching and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice hatching at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only hatching and cross-hatching strokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a hatched version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about bravura brushstrokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice bravura strokes at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only bravura brushstrokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a bravura version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about dry brushing and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice dry brushing at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only dry brush strokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a dry brushed version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about feathered brushstrokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice feathering at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only feathered strokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a feathered version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about scumbled brushstrokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice scumbling at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only scumbled strokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create a scumbled version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about impasto strokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice impasto brushwork at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only impasto brushstrokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create an impasto version of your chosen image.

Now that you've learned about impasto knife strokes and watched example demonstrations, it's time for you to try it on your own. This lecture walks you through how to practice impasto knife work at home. I recommend using one color for this exercise, unless otherwise indicated. Includes a helpful handout.

Applying the brushstroke is a critical part of the learning process. In this lecture, I demonstrate painting an object using only impasto knife strokes.

When you're ready to try it on your own, select up to four colors, prepare your paint mixes, and create an impasto version of your chosen image using a palette knife.

Part one of this course closes with a short visual quiz. Set to music, students are challenged to identify the brushstrokes learned up to this point in the works of some of the masters.

How do brushstrokes influence a work of art? What are the different brushstrokes and which Masters made them famous? This three-part groundbreaking series traces the history of artistic brushwork beginning with the pre-Renaissance era up to the 1800s.

Part two of this groundbreaking series on brushstrokes delves into the significant changes that occurred in the world of art throughout the19th Century. Many of the innovative brushstrokes developed by the masters during this time period set the foundation for the work and ideas seen throughout the 20th century and into today.

In part three of this groundbreaking series, students take a look at the explosion of new ideas in brushwork and paint application. Focusing on select brushstrokes, the video walks through the gradual progression and shows how ideas of abstraction became part of the artist’s repertoire.

If you're struggling to achieve smooth glazes, gradients, or other brushstrokes in watercolor, the problem could be your paints. In this lecture, we examine professional, student, and academic grade watercolor paints and how paint grade can impact results when painting.

The quality and brand of watercolor paper can have an enormous influence on painting results. It could mean the difference between success and failure. In this lecture, we examine professional, student, and academic grade watercolor papers and how they impact results when painting.