How Much Does Brush Work Matter?

Brushwork matters—but only once you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals: drawing, design, value, and color. These core skills should be your primary focus before shifting your attention to the calligraphy of paint. I often have students, or those in TAAO classes, ask about brushwork when, in reality, they would benefit more from strengthening their foundational principles. With oil paints, the physicality of the medium allows you to build up and manipulate the paint. If you’ve reached a level where your fundamentals are strong, then it’s time to start thinking about brushwork more consciously.

In landscape painting, you’ll typically find that distant areas are quieter, while the foreground tends to have more visual activity. In figurative or still life work, the concept of distance doesn’t play as much of a role, but the importance of paint quality and brushwork remains just as crucial. Brushwork, which I consider the calligraphy of paint, can vary in thickness and thinness, and these variations are key to effectively communicating your message. The answer to how much focus you should place on brushwork is both yes and no—it truly depends on where you are in your painting journey. That’s why I’m giving you a virtual red or green light: don’t worry about brushwork if you haven’t fully mastered the fundamentals yet. Everything I share comes from my own personal struggles and successes that I’ve built upon over time.

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