Massimo
Feb 25, 2024
2 min read
Quick and Beautiful: Painting Tips for When Time is of the Essence
Feb 26, 2024
Painting a picture can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, but it can also be a time-consuming process. Sometimes, however, you might need to create a painting quickly - maybe you're under a deadline or you just don't have a lot of time to spare. Here are some tips for painting a picture quickly:
Choose your subject carefully. When you're working on a tight schedule, it's important to choose a subject that you can paint quickly and confidently. Pick something that you're familiar with, or that you have a lot of reference material for.
Set up your workspace. Before you start painting, make sure that you have everything you need within reach. This includes your paints, brushes, palette, and any reference material you might need. Having everything close at hand will help you work more efficiently.
Start with a quick sketch, one horizontal line and very few points of reference should be planty (where you put that horizontal line is up to your sensibility 😱). Even if you're in a hurry, it's important to start with a sketch. This will help you plan out your composition and make sure that everything is in the right place. Use light strokes so that you can easily make changes if needed.
Block in your colors. Once you have your sketch, start blocking in your colors. Use large brushes and work quickly to cover the canvas. Don't worry too much about details at this point - just focus on getting the basic colors in place.
Work from general to specific. As you work, start adding more detail and refining your painting. Work from general to specific - start with the large shapes and work your way down to the smaller details. If you catch yourself putting details on within a minute or so perhaps you are zooming in to quickly.
Keep it loose. When you're painting quickly, it's important to keep things loose and spontaneous. Don't get bogged down in details or try to make everything perfect. Instead, focus on capturing the essence of your subject.
Some painters would suggest working with a limited color palette but I desagree-- having some blobs of premixed color on the palette will spare you from having to mix tints on the go. Mix an harmony on the palette and stick to it; an harmony is a set of colors that resonate to you personally.
Don't overwork it. When you're working on a tight schedule, it's easy to get caught up in the details and overwork your painting. Resist the urge to keep going back and making changes. Instead, step back and evaluate your painting from a distance.
Q: When am I done?
A: You will know!
Painting a picture quickly can be a fun and challenging experience. By following these tips, you can create a painting that captures the essence of your subject in a short amount of time. Remember to keep things loose and spontaneous, and don't worry too much about making everything perfect. Happy painting!