Have you ever noticed how kids press really hard when they draw or paint? They look so confident, as if they know exactly what they’re doing.
Adults, however, are different. Some apply too much pressure, while others barely touch the canvas, as if they’re afraid of making a mistake. The key to mastering brushstrokes is learning to control them, deciding when to apply force and when to go softer.
Mastering Brush Control
To create beautiful paintings, you must command your brushes with confidence. The pressure you apply affects everything—from glazing to blending—so developing control is essential.
This skill comes with practice, but I’ve found a few simple exercises that help my students improve quickly.
Step 1: Pencil Pressure Exercise
Before using brushes, start by practicing with a soft pencil (8B or 9B) or charcoal.
✅ Exercise: Create a smooth gradient from dark to light in one single stroke.
- Press hard for dark values.
- Release pressure gradually for lighter areas.
- No repeated strokes! This forces your hand to control pressure in a single movement.
🔹 Do this daily for a week. It will help train your hand to control stroke intensity.
Step 2: Painting a Sphere
Next, apply the same pressure control with a brush and oil paint.
✅ Exercise: Paint a sphere.
1️⃣ First method:
- Cover the whole sphere in black paint.
- Add white in the light area and blend.
2️⃣ Second method:
- Paint the dark and light areas separately.
- Use a soft brush to blend the transition.
✅ Tools:
- Use flat, smooth brushes for blending.
- Keep a separate brush just for softening edges.
- Finish with a fan brush for a super smooth effect.
🔹 Repeat this exercise several times to develop control over how much pressure you apply with your brushes.
Final Thoughts
By combining both exercises—pencil control and brush blending—you’ll gain better control over your strokes, pressure, and blending in no time.
🎨 With practice, you’ll be able to decide:
✔️ When to use bold, strong brushstrokes.
✔️ When to apply delicate, soft touches.
Mastering this skill will take your oil painting to a whole new level! 🚀