I was reading my David Leffel book and was inspired to try and follow some advice that is listed.
An important in painting is to learn the feel of the paint on the brush, to know how much paint is needed for a thick or thin application of color. The thicker the paint, the richer the darks, and the lighter the lights. Learn to hold a brush loaded with paint and still make a sensitive stroke so almost no paint comes off. If you aren’t in total command of you brush and paint, you are not a painter. This is primary; trying to learn value and color is otherwise impossible.
Practice, while painting, to control the amount of paint that comes off the end of your brush. This is the heart and soul of painting.
Make each brushstroke describe your intention. Think before you use the brush. Load your brush with thick paint and let the brushstroke follow the form of the object your painting, or stroke it on ina the direct of the gesture, the body’s movement. You might use the brush in a chiseling fashion, in short staccato movements, or as a conductor uses a baton. Always use the stroke that best describes the surface you’re painting. And finish your brushstroke on the canvas. Don’t lift the brush until the stroke is finished. Then life it off for the next brushstrok to begin and end.
Start to paint seriously the moment you pick up a brush. If you begin by painting carelessly, with slapdash strokes, you’ll find it difficult to move into the more careful painting.
So I tried to do the above but it took way more focus than I had tonight so I found myself just brushing at will.
