One of the things I hear most often from students is “I want to loosen up,” “I’d love to be able to paint more freely,” or “Look at those brushstrokes. I’d never dare.”
The art of painting in a more loose and free manner seems, on the surface, an easy thing. Whether it’s big, colourful washes of watercolour, slick, confident brushstrokes in oil or fluid, bold mark making in charcoal, they all share an effortless and, in some cases, ‘accidental’ look. In reality, many artists struggle to achieve this fresh and free-flowing way of working and, instead, get stuck with fiddly details, uncertain mark-making and a timid approach.
There is, of course, one sure way to overcome this uncertainty – and that’s practise. Most artists spend years mastering their medium…
