You may have taught yourself how to paint and missed out learning some of the different types of strokes. Taking time to continue to learn and better yourself, will improve your work. You can really add so much texture, depth, and interest to your work by using different strokes. Using the same strokes may make your work begin to look the same from painting to the next. Switch it up by using some of these different strokes. Give it a try, you may be surprised!
This stroke may be a lovey addition to your work, and a stroke that you may not often consider. It can be used as a border or even fun flower petals. I am certain once you learn this stroke you will find someway to incorporate it in to your designs.
It really is not much different than writing an “S”. It just requires more pressure than you would exert while writing it with a pen or pencil. It too may require some practice time, but you should be used to that by now.
You will begin the stroke with your brush on the chisel edge. Your paint brush handle should be in a perpendicular position when you begin. If you are using a flat brush, your brush will begin at an angle to start the curve of the “S”. The basic stroke is chisel, flat, and then back to the chisel where you began.
You will begin with a line that is created when the chisel part of the bristles touch the surface. You will place pressure on the bristles and bring them down to the flat part on the surface. Then you will begin to release pressure as you slide the brush to end the “S” stroke, and end up on the chisel edge with a fine line.
As with all of the strokes you are learning, practice to get the feel of the stroke and the amount of pressure needed. Some of the strokes will be easier to do, not requiring as much practice. It is perfectly natural for there to a need to practice until you get it just the way you want it. If you get frustrated, step away and take a break. Come back and try again later.