Poppies in Acrylic – Steps to loose painting

I combined my ability to depict realistic Poppies in acrylic paint with fun and intuitive brush work. This painting is about design and texture. The warm colors give it a rich and cozy feeling. The loose bush work adds intimacy.

Artists spend hours practicing their form and ability to depict real objects. The struggle sometimes comes in letting go and playing with their brush and paint. Painting with loose brush work is intuitive and personal. It can however be learned.

Steps to loose painting

First choose a realistic object to anchor your painting. Place it in an area of your composition that gives it the focal point. Plan and sketch that focal point as usual. Once comfortable with the look and feel of the focal point stop relying on the source inspiration and visual references. Glance for color and texture references. Trust that you know the form you are painting and begin moving your brush as you would when sketching. Focus on your painting and not what you are painting. Play with the textures you can create with your brush. The final step is to balance your focal point with the composition as a whole.