Different Techniques, Same Painting

(This follows on from the video I published last week walking you through my Secret Spot painting. You can watch it here if you missed it.)

My Secret Spot painting is a good demonstration of weaving together all kinds of different techniques. Take a look at the close-up below.

I can see:

Multicolored strokes with a palette knife.
Dabbing with a palette knife into wet paint, which partially applied paint and partially lifted paint from the surface.
Linework with a fine brush to suggest ripples on the water.
Fingerprints and smudges to add variance and to break up edges.
Rough blending with a palette knife (see where it transitions from light purple to light blue).
Highlights and dark accents scumbled over a dried surface.
Small bursts of vivid color (yellow, green, blue, and red).
Thick, impasto strokes which create tiny cast shadows and highlights on the surface. This adds an interesting, dynamic effect to the painting, in that it’s appearance changes slightly based on the light illuminating it and your viewpoint.

It’s not easy to juggle so many techniques in the same painting, but if you can pull it off, it can add a heap of complexity and interest. It also makes your work more unique and difficult to replicate.

I haven’t always worked this way. Early on, I’d stick to one or two techniques at a time just to keep things simple. For example, in this early painting of Noosa, I focused on dabbing, impressionistic strokes and the play between light orange and rich blue (complementary colors). Over the years, my range of techniques has expanded, as has my ability to spot opportunities to use them effectively.

If you’re new to painting, I suggest you do the same. Every now and then, pick a new technique to focus on in a painting. It may not be your best work as the technique may feel uncomfortable, but it’s worth it in the long run!

It’s also worth noting that I don’t use all these techniques to add complexity for the sake of it. The opportunities to use them simply arrise as the painting evolves.

Thanks for reading! If you want to learn more, start with our fundamentals course.

Happy painting!