Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really good and I'm so pleased that you're here.

My name is Ms. Hafsal and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson, which I'm feeling very good about.

Today's lesson is all about painting and brushwork.

Our lesson is called "Painting: brushwork techniques for Texture and Precision." Our lesson comes from the unity of work foundation workshops developing skills.

So if you're ready to develop your brushwork skills, if you have some focus, energy and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson now.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can use brushwork to dramatically affect the surface quality and expressive power of my painting.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

They are dry brush, impasto, feathering, and stippling.

So what do these keywords mean? Well, dry brush is using very little paint on a dry brush to create rough textured marks.

Impasto, a technique where thick paint is applied to create a textured 3D effect.

Feathering, a painting technique which creates smooth transitions between two colors or tones by blending.

And stippling.

Involves dabbing a brush or sponge to apply small dots of paint.

These are our keywords, dry brush, impasto, feathering, and stippling.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called painting brushwork, techniques for texture and precision, and it has two learning cycles.

Identify brushwork techniques and experiment with different brush techniques.

Let's begin by identifying brushwork techniques.

Take a look at this painting and the brushwork.

How has the artist used brushwork for this painting? Who is there, and share with someone what do you think? Thanks for sharing.

And take a look at these two paintings.

How has the artist used brushwork for these paintings? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing how you think the artist has used brushwork in these paintings.

We are gonna be exploring a range of brushwork techniques.

Painting is the art of distributing pigment over a surface.

There are many different types of paint and ways to apply it using different painting tools and techniques.

We might choose from brushes we can see on the left, palette knife in the middle and rollers and sponges that we can see on the right.

Pause here and share with someone which kind of painting tools have you used so far in your painting journey? Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding, true or false.

There is only one correct tool that artists can use to apply paint to a surface.

Pause here while you decide.

Is this statement true or false? Well done if you selected false.

Indeed, artists can use a wide range of tools and materials to apply paint such as brushes, palette knives, sponges, or even their fingers.

Each creates a different effect.

The surface that the paint is applied to is called the support.

Supports for painting include paper that can absorb water and pigment, canvas or board that is primed so that the color stays on the surface.

The paint can be laid in different thicknesses and by using different actions to create different effects.

Pause here and share with someone what supports for painting have you used.

Any particular kinds of paper, canvas or board? Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

In painting, what do artists mean by the term support? Is it A, the layer of primer that seals the surface.

B, the surface the paint is applied to, such as canvas board or paper.

C, the tool used to spread and control the paint, or D, the frame that holds a canvas in place.

Pause here while you decide in painting, what do artists mean by the term support? Well done, if you selected answer B, indeed, it's the surface that the paint is applied to, such as canvas, board or paper.

Painters apply paint in lots of different ways for different effects.

This is an example of using brushwork for expressive effect.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of this expressive use of brushwork.

Thanks for sharing.

Sometimes artists may want very precise edges and to work slowly and accurately, or they may want to work in a looser way with less control and a more expressive effect.

This example is more controlled with precise strokes and edges.

What kind of texture do you see? How does the brushwork affect the mood or realism? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear some responses.

Here's Lucas.

I can see rough, scratchy textures where the paint looks uneven.

It makes the surface feel energetic and bold.

And Sam, the loose brushwork makes the painting feel more expressive than realistic.

It gives the mood a sense of movement and emotion rather than calm detail.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Select the image which shows an expressive effect and justify how you know.

Pause here while you decide there's an expressive effect in painting A, B, or C.

And justify your answer.

Well done if you selected answer C.

The artist has used bold, gestural brushstrokes, drips, and overlapping colors that feel spontaneous and energetic.

Here are some brush techniques you can use.

Impasto, dry brush, feathering, stippling.

Can you think of any more? Pause here while you do this.

Thanks for having a go at that.

What kind of tools might have been used to lay the paint on to create large strokes? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Impasto, this is a painting technique where paint is applied very thickly onto the surface so that it stands out from the support and creates a textured, almost three dimensional effect.

Frank Auerbach, Salman Toor and Jenny Saville use thick heavy layers of oil paint that create a textured surface.

They often use large expressive strokes.

Steps for creating impasto.

Step one, use thick paint and mix each color in a palette with a heavy body medium.

Step two, use a palette knife, spatula or the thick bristle brush to lay the paint onto the support.

Step three, scoop the paint up with the tool you have chosen then lay it onto the support.

Step four, you can lay different strokes side by side or build them up in layers.

Step five, the brush or tool can be used to shape the paint and create texture.

Dry brush technique.

Using very little paint on a dry brush to create rough textured marks.

This technique dates back thousands of years to ancient China and Japan.

You can also build up color and tone by layering tones of the same color, allowing each to dry completely in between.

American artist Andrew Wyeth is well known using dry brush to build up textured layers.

Rosa Bonheur used it to create the effect of hair and dust.

This works well if there is a strong contrast between the paint and the layer underneath as the strokes show up well.

Steps for using a dry brush technique.

Step one, lightly load a completely clean and dry stiff bristle brush with paint.

Then wipe almost all of it off with the paper towel.

Step two, sweep the brush across a completely dry surface that is a different color.

This technique works well if there is a strong contrast between a paint and the layer underneath as the strokes show up well.

Here's a question from Lucas.

What type of paint should I use and why should I avoid using new brushes when experimenting with texture? Old, blunt, or split brushes create interesting textures and acrylic paint dries quickly, making it ideal for layering tones without colors becoming muddy.

Feathering.

This is a painting technique which creates smooth transitions between two colors or tones by blending.

It's a technique that can be used for lots of purposes, such as creating atmosphere, blending large areas of paint, rendering natural textures.

What effect has been created by the use of the technique in this example? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Steps for using the feathering technique.

Step one, apply paint to the support with blocks of tone and color side by side.

Step two, before the paint dries, using a clean soft brush to gently pull the edges of the wet paint outwards to draw the edges of the different tone or color together.

Stippling involves dabbing a brush or sponge to apply small dots of paint.

What effect has been created by the use of the technique in this example? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

By applying more or less and controlling the spacing, artists can control tone and blend colors, as in the work of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

Similar effects can be created by using hatching, with sets of lines overlapped or scribbling for a looser expressive effect.

Paula Rego combined all of these techniques in her paintings.

She used oil pastels instead of brushes.

Lois Curtis created art with bold, free flowing lines and textured vibrant surfaces, often layering colors and patterns to give her figures an expressive, tactile quality.

How to stipple.

Step one, load your brush or sponge with paint and dab it repeatedly onto the support to apply small dots of paint.

Step two, layer a color by dabbing the next color with a clean brush on top of the first.

Here Lucas.

I noticed that if you use a light pressure to dab your dots, they'll be smaller or softer.

Firmer pressure will give stronger, more expressive marks.

And here's a tip.

Use a synthetic brush with a short firm bristle.

Work in watercolor or acrylic and add water to create more translucent layers.

Watercolor and acrylic are good paints to use.

Let's have a check for understanding, true or false.

Stippling is only used for decoration and cannot be used to control tone or blend colors.

Pause here while you decide, is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

By adjusting how much you apply and the spacing of the marks, stippling can control tone and even blend colors.

And now it's time for your first task.

Create a sample sheet in your sketchbook or on cartridge paper.

Experiment with five different brushwork techniques.

You could try stippling, feathering, impasto, smooth, chaotic, precise, layered, dry brush.

Label each section with the technique name.

Annotate the effect e.

g creates texture, looks fluid, adds energy.

You could also mix tools.

Combine a brush with a sponge, palette knife or even your fingers to create hybrid textures.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with this task of creating a sampler sheet in your sketchbook or on cartridge paper? And have experimented with five different brushwork techniques.

There are many possible outcomes as we can see here.

How wonderful.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle.

Experiment with different brush techniques.

What brush techniques has the artist used for precision? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists may apply paint in a slow, steady, and planned way when they want a precise line or effect.

They'll choose tools and techniques to help them control the paint carefully.

Artists such as Leonora Carrington or Kehinde Wiley build precise, meticulous paintings with highly controlled brushwork.

Other times they may want an expressive, lively effect and will work in a more spontaneous way.

Frank Bowling and Emily Kam Kngwarray's paintings are good examples.

Sometimes artists combine both controlled and expressive techniques.

The work of Studio Lenca is a good example.

Using controlled techniques for precision.

Vary your brush pressure, speed, and direction.

Use the correct brush tip and angle like the edge of a filbert.

Apply paint in thin layers to avoid overworked streaks.

Confident single strokes and holding the brush firmly yet using your whole arm can provide more control for delicate work.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following best describes a controlled painting technique? Is it A, applying paint quickly with bold, sweeping strokes to create energy.

B, letting paint drip and run freely to build texture.

Or C, using a steady hand and careful brushwork to achieve precise detail.

Pause here while you decide which of these best describes a controlled painting technique.

Well done if you selected answer C, indeed, it's using a steady hand and careful brushwork to achieve precise detail.

Combining techniques.

Some of the artists we've thought about combine different techniques in their work.

Jenny Saville uses tools to scratch marks into the thick layers of paint.

Paula Rego combines stippling, hatching, and scribbling.

William Blake uses brushes and sponges to lay the paint, then scrape back and scratch away paint to create texture and expressive marks.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What do artists like Jenny Saville, Paula Rego, and William Blake show us about painting techniques? Is it A, the best paintings use only one technique to stay clear and simple.

B, artists can build complexity by layering and combining different techniques.

C, tools like sponges and scratching are mistakes to be avoided.

Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, artists can build complexity by layering and combining different techniques.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to select a textured object to work from, either a reference image or a real object.

Examples, tree bark, denim, fur, metal.

Paint a small study that focuses on replicating the object's texture.

Experiment with brushwork.

Use short, layered, or directional strokes to suggest the surface.

Switch tools when needed.

Try a sponge, palette knife or fingers to build surface complexity.

Layer your paint to create depth and a convincing tactile effect.

Pause here while you have a go at this task of selecting a textured object to work from and painting a small study.

Enjoy your task and I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with that task? Selecting a textured object to work from either a reference image or a real object.

There are many possibilities.

Look at these, how wonderful.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of these paintings that we can see.

What kind of brushwork has been used and what effect has been achieved in each one.

Thanks for sharing.

And now I would like you to share your painting with someone, and without telling them what brush technique you've used or the tools that you have used, see if they could have an idea of what those might have been.

Thanks for sharing.

In our lesson Painting: brushwork techniques for texture and precision, we've covered the following.

Painters use a range of brushwork techniques including dry brush, impasto, feathering and stippling.

Brush choice and handling affect texture and precision.

Brushwork effects contribute to mood, form, and surface.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore painting and brushwork together to have a look at all of those different techniques and to notice what the effect is of each one.

I hope you enjoyed experimenting with different tools and techniques and that you're happy with the effects that you've created.

I really enjoyed teaching you, and I hope you enjoyed this lesson too.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.