How To Loosen Up Your Painting

I just received an email from an artist who is trying to turn the corner in her painting.  She wants to improve, loosen her style and better define her style.  There are no shortcuts to becoming a really good painter, but some of the tips below may help you on your journey. 

Quick tips to help you loosen up and/or further develop / improve your style:

• Use what I call a second generation technique - first do a watercolor of the scene....do not spend more than 45 minutes on the 8 x 10 (small) watercolor or pastel
• Then paint the oil or acrylic from the watercolor......do not use any other references except memory
• Use a large brush #14 for the entire painting......do not use anything smaller except a finger or palette knife to move paint around
• Use only a palette knife.....same idea.....a blunt painting instrument.....
• Try to recreate one of my paintings.....one that you like.....try it. Deconstruct it, try to think thru the layering process.
• If using oils - always begin with a turpentine wash......I use organic turp (turpinoid) - don't spare the wash.....make it runny. Then begin painting on top of it - make the oil painting flow by using Linseed oil and/or other medium (I use Copal too).

I hope some of these tips make sense to you.  I have used all of them during my own development process.  Of course I continue to push, take risks, and paint as many canvases as I can each year in an effort to keep improving.  Good luck!

Down in the Valley - 18 x 24 - oil

(At The Fine Art Gallery in Ft. Collins, Co)_