Becoming More Expressive in Your Painting
As a longtime teacher, “how can I become more expressive (loose) and painterly in my painting style” is by far the #1 request I get from students. I'd like to help these students but for many the reality is "expressive" is out of reach. The problem is they do not have the color skills to pull it off. They never learned value and color.
Learning to be more expressive in your painting style requires a different approach – a different outcome and objective. It’s not difficult but it requires a good understanding of the foundations of painting – particularly color and value. But it is not lost on me that the majority students that come to me with this request do not have a solid understanding of these skills. Years ago, when I started painting, I recall reading in the forward of an art book that value and color were the most important skills in painting- that they influence everything else we do on the canvas. And my experience over the last 22 years in my own art and with my teaching reinforces that point. Value Rules – Color Dresses it Up.
This idea is not new. Pick up any how-to-paint book and there will be several chapters devoted to value and color. And as hard as it might be to understand novice painters either did not read those books or thought “value and color” were somehow optional. They’re central to the skill. So, if you are a person who is about to embark on your new painting journey, just remember - learn value and color. And one day you're going to want to become more expressive in your painting. Make it your mission to get good at value and color. And when the time comes, becoming more expressive, loose, and painterly will not be a problem.
In my teaching of painting classes and workshops I always lead with value and color. But the truth is few self-taught painters are motivated to slow down enough and learn to do it right. They just want to paint - an ask me if I could teach them to be more expressive.
