Creating Energy in Your Paintings: How to Use Brushstrokes Effectively

One of the most exciting aspects of acrylic painting is the ability to create energy and movement through your brushstrokes. Bold, deliberate brushwork can bring life to your paintings, adding texture, expression, and flow that draw the viewer in. Whether you’re painting a landscape, a portrait, or an abstract piece, mastering your brushstrokes is key to creating dynamic and energetic results.

Here’s how you can harness the power of brushstrokes to add energy to your acrylic paintings.

1. Use Larger Brushes

To create more energetic brushstrokes, start by using larger brushes. Smaller brushes often lead to more controlled, detailed work, but if you want to loosen up and create dynamic marks, larger brushes are the way to go. They allow for more freedom of movement and help you cover larger areas with sweeping strokes.

Try this: Use a 1-inch or larger flat or filbert brush for your next painting session. Focus on broad, bold strokes that set the tone for the rest of your work.

2. Work Quickly and Confidently

Energy in painting often comes from the speed and confidence with which you apply your brushstrokes. Don’t overthink every mark—sometimes the most expressive strokes are the ones made quickly and instinctively. Acrylics dry fast, so working quickly also allows you to take advantage of the medium’s quick-drying properties for layering.

Try this: Set a timer and challenge yourself to paint sections of your canvas in short, 10-minute bursts. This can help you focus on the overall flow and movement of the painting rather than getting bogged down in details.

3. Vary Your Stroke Direction

One of the easiest ways to create movement and energy in your painting is to vary the direction of your brushstrokes. Uniform, straight lines can make a painting feel flat, but diagonal, curved, or opposing strokes create a sense of rhythm and movement.

Try this: For your next painting, avoid using the same direction for all your brushstrokes. Instead, experiment with varying directions, allowing the brush to follow the natural flow of your subject.

4. Experiment with Dry Brush Techniques

Dry brushing is a great technique for adding texture and energy to your painting without overloading your brush with paint. By using less paint on the brush, you can create rough, textured strokes that add visual interest and a sense of movement.

Try this: Dip your brush lightly in paint, then wipe off most of it on a paper towel before applying it to the canvas. Use quick, light strokes to create areas of texture and energy.

5. Layer for Depth

Energy doesn’t just come from individual brushstrokes—it can also come from the layers of paint you build up over time. By layering different strokes and colours, you create depth and complexity, making the painting feel alive with movement.

Try this: Start with a base layer of broad, loose strokes, then build up additional layers of more detailed or smaller strokes. Allow some of the base layer to show through for a more dynamic effect.

Final Thoughts

Creating energy in your paintings is all about embracing bold, expressive brushwork. By using larger brushes, working quickly, varying your strokes, experimenting with dry brush techniques, and layering for depth, you’ll infuse your acrylic paintings with movement and life. So grab your brush, loosen up, and let the energy flow onto the canvas.

Before you go, dream it, paint it!