Simplifying Your Subject: How to Paint Without Overthinking

Have you ever started a painting only to feel overwhelmed by the complexity of your subject? Overthinking can lead to stiff, overworked paintings that lose the spark of creativity. The key to avoiding this is learning how to simplify your subject, focusing on the essential elements that capture the essence of the scene. By stripping away unnecessary details, you’ll paint more confidently and create more expressive, dynamic artwork.

Here’s how to simplify your subject without overthinking and make your acrylic paintings more powerful.

1. Focus on Value Over Detail

One of the most effective ways to simplify your subject is to focus on value rather than every minute detail. Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a colour, and it’s crucial for creating depth and contrast in a painting. By concentrating on the big shapes of light and shadow, you can capture the essence of your subject without getting bogged down in the specifics.

Try this: Squint at your reference photo or subject to reduce the scene to its basic value shapes. Block in these shapes using broad brushstrokes, focusing on the contrast between light and dark areas rather than small details.

2. Break Your Subject into Simple Shapes

Every subject, no matter how complex, can be broken down into simple shapes. Whether you’re painting a landscape, a figure, or an object, look for the basic forms that make up the whole. Simplifying your subject into shapes like circles, squares, and triangles helps you see the overall structure and composition more clearly.

Try this: Before diving into the details, sketch your subject using basic shapes. For example, if you’re painting a tree, start with a rough oval or triangle for the foliage and a rectangle for the trunk. This will serve as the foundation for your painting.

3. Limit Your Colour Palette

A limited colour palette can help simplify your painting process and prevent you from overcomplicating things. By using fewer colours, you’ll focus more on value, composition, and brushwork, rather than worrying about mixing dozens of colours. This also helps create a more harmonious and cohesive painting.

Try this: Choose a limited palette of three to five colours, plus white. Stick to these colours throughout the painting, and challenge yourself to mix variations using what you have.

4. Use Larger Brushes First

It’s tempting to reach for a small brush to start adding details right away, but using larger brushes at the beginning forces you to focus on the big picture. Larger brushes help you block in shapes, values, and colours quickly, setting a strong foundation for the finer details later on.

Try this: Start your painting with larger brushes and broad strokes. Once you’ve established the basic structure and composition, switch to smaller brushes to refine specific areas, but resist the urge to overwork the details.

5. Don’t Be Afraid of Negative Space

Negative space—the areas around and between your subject—is just as important as the subject itself. By paying attention to negative space, you can create a more balanced composition and help simplify the overall design. Often, less is more when it comes to painting, and leaving some areas untouched can create a stronger impact.

Try this: Instead of filling every inch of the canvas with detail, leave areas of negative space around your subject. This will allow your subject to stand out and give the viewer’s eye a place to rest.

6. Embrace Imperfection

One of the biggest barriers to simplifying your painting is the fear of imperfection. Let go of the idea that every brushstroke needs to be perfect or that every detail needs to be included. Often, a looser, more gestural approach results in a painting that feels more alive and expressive.

Try this: Set a timer for 20 minutes and challenge yourself to paint the subject quickly, without overthinking each stroke. The goal is to capture the essence, not perfection. You might be surprised at how dynamic and fresh your painting looks when you embrace imperfection.

Final Thoughts

Simplifying your subject is about seeing the big picture and focusing on what’s most important. By concentrating on value, using basic shapes, limiting your colour palette, and embracing negative space, you can avoid overthinking and create more confident, expressive paintings. Remember, it’s not about painting every detail—it’s about capturing the essence of your subject.

Before you go, dream it, paint it!