Hey everyone! Happy Friday ☕ (Patreon)

Generally before I begin a painting session, I like to read some reminders (you can see a short version of it all in the picture)

I want to go over a few of those things today and hopefully get you in the mood for painting this weekend!

○  I always liked figurative art and styles where you can see more brushwork and movement. But it took me years to become more “loose” in my approach. I realized that to achieve it you can’t skimp on paint; you have to use enough of it, and you shouldn’t overwork or over-blend any area, just keep going, trust the process.

○  It’s very important to keep anatomy and proportions in check. Whether you work with a reference or from life, it’s very difficult to stick to your initial sketch or the outlines, it’s all going to be drifting in the process. That’s why it’s not a one-and-done thing, it’s something you have to work on and improve throughout the painting process to achieve that likeness and accuracy.

Take breaks and come back to see your artwork with “new eyes”, you’ll immediately start noticing what you need to work on more or to fix. Look at your painting in the mirror, turn it upside-down or simply step away from it and look at it from afar or from a different perspective! All these things are constantly done by the artists so that they could analyze their work better and to correct mistakes in anatomy and proportions.

○  Many beginners and even more experienced painters may have the urge to define certain features, to make them more pronounced.. However it’s best to not overly define features, nor to outline them, nor to add too much detail, if you want your paintings to be more lifelike. In reality, face features are quite soft and subtle. So be mindful of that and it will significantly improve your work.

○  Another thing I’d like to mention is.. you don’t actually have to feel inspired and “in the flow” to start painting. It’s usually quite the opposite: once you start – that’s when you get into a state of being more inspired and the most creative. It’s funny how that works!

I hope you found this useful or applicable!

By the way, this photo is from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, that I went to see last week. I had an amazing experience and I highly recommend visiting it if you’re in the area.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions ♡

All the best,

Daria