The speed that you place a brushstroke down with, is the speed that the viewer will move along the stroke with. Directional and unifying brushstrokes really are like roads and you set the speed limit. The contours of your stroke are the contours that the viewer will move along. Lay down short strokes and the other person will start and stop with you. End or start abruptly and the other person will enter or exit your painting with the same suddenness. You see this is the sublime – brushstrokes directly connect with the other person and carries them on your journey
Trust yourself and your viewer. I know that you are going to feel lost at many points in the painting especially when you are building chains of colours or trying to figure out how to restart the conversation but here is a little truth: Painting is communication between humans and your vision is one of your most developed senses. Be human in your painting and trust your eye to lead you, trust yourself that even if you take a decision which sets back the painting that you will be able to set up another chain to guide you to another successful place. Of course you need to be critical of your aesthetic but this is ongoing and if you are constantly honing your understanding of the painter you want to be, when you stand in front of the canvas you can trust your eye. Fill your mind and then unplug.
Humans have a very highly developed, sophisticated ability to recognize pattern and to imbue it with meaning. Most importantly this ability is instinctive and happens quickly before we pass it though analysis. It is so important for a painter to play with this in terms of making elements of the painting appear from within the work through brushwork but skillful play with contrast will also engage, confuse or bore your viewer.
Painting betrays our attitudes and thoughts so it is important to be physically present to the painting, especially in the beginning. Always start a painting with energy and commitment even if you plan to create a placid piece. It is easy to develop calm later but almost impossible to increase intensity if it is just not there.
(I am still adding to this page so please pop back in…., thanks leanne)
