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Brushstrokes explained

The most widely accepted methods oflittle extra paint on the tip. Start the
teaching brush strokes involve the usestroke at the head by applying pressure
of a flag on your brush handle and anand pausing slightly to allow the brush
imaginary clock to indicate direction orhairs to fan out some. Begin pulling
brush position.toward you, gradually releasing pressure
First, flag your brushes. Cut outas you reach the tail. Avoid sharp
several triangles of cardstock or otherdecreases in pressure and strive for a
stiff paper and scotch tape them to thenice, smooth curve in the belly.
tops of your brush handles. WhichNow try a comma stroke in the opposite
direction your flags point on your rounddirection.
brushes isn't important, but whenThe S-stroke is another common stroke
flagging flat brushes the flag must beand, again, variations can be achieved
in line with the width of the brush. Ifby the type of brush you use, the size
the black bar in the clock to the rightbrush you use, and by altering the
represents the bristles of your flatpressure or the length of the stroke.
brush when held perpendicular to theAgain, S-strokes can be done with either
clock surface, your flag should bea liner, a round or a flat brush,
pointing to 12 o'clock.although a flat brush is best if you're
Next, find a comfortable position. Yourjust learning. This example was done
painting surface should be about lapusing a flat brush.
height when you are seated. That greatStart the S-stroke by placing your brush
painting table you bought last year isso that your flag is pointed at 1
likely too high and will restrict youro'clock. Slide on the chisel edge
movement when doing stroke work. Theslightly toward 7 o'clock, gradually
keys to good brush strokes are that youapplying more pressure. While continuing
be comfortable and relaxed with noto apply more pressure, gradually change
strain on your neck or shoulder muscles.directions to 5 o'clock. Then head
Working at lap height will allow fortoward 7 o'clock again, gradually
freer and more fluid movement of yourreleasing pressure. Stop on the chisel
hand, arm and shoulder. Your mileage,edge of your brush. Your flag should
however, may vary and you shouldremain pointed at the 1 o'clock position
experiment with different positions tothroughout the stroke. Aim for smooth
find the one that's most comfortable fortransitions in the stroke and avoid
you.sharp angles.
Your brush should be held perpendicularNow try an s-stroke going in the
to the surface you're painting on,opposite direction, starting at 11
straight up and down, and should NOT beo'clock and heading towards 5 o'clock.
held at a slant like a pencil. BrushThe crescent or c-stroke is commonly
stroke movement should come from theused in decorative painting for flower
shoulder and your entire arm should movepetals and decorative borders and is
through the stroke. Many artistswell worth the effort to learn. The
recommend using your little finger toc-stroke can be done with any size
balance on, moving your little fingerliner, round or flat brush. The first
along with your arm through the stroke.example was done with a flat brush.
Others recommend having no hand contactStart the c-stroke with your flag
with the surface at all. Try it bothpointing to 11 o'clock, slide on the
ways and use whatever works best forchisel edge, increase pressure as you
you.near the top of the stroke, decrease
And, of course, always use qualitypressure and slide on the chisel edge,
brushes in excellent condition. Usingcoming to a stop with your flag pointing
brushes in poor condition, such as atoward 1 o'clock. Your flag will rotate
round pointed brush whose point is nosomewhat as you go over the top curve of
longer well defined, can be verythe stroke.
discouraging and may cause you to giveThe more you practice your brush
up on learning stroke work when, instrokes, the more rewarding your results
fact, the brush is actually the problem.will be. Keep a brush, a bottle of paint
The comma stroke in all its variationsand practice paper handy and practice as
is one of the most useful strokes tooften as you can, even if only for a few
learn. You can use a liner brush, aminutes at a time. Keep your supplies by
round brush or even a flat brush to makethe phone and practice while you talk.
comma strokes and you can vary theirIf you're like me and cannot possibly do
appearance by using different sizedonly one thing at a time, practice while
brushes, by shortening or lengtheningyou watch TV. Date your practice pages
the "tail," applying more or lessso you can refer back to them and chart
pressure, or by straightening or puttingyour progress. And remember, your
more "curve" in the belly. This examplestrokes don't have to be perfect. Minor
was done using a round brush.variations give them character and make
Load your brush and then pick up ayour painting unique :-)



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