Why stroke direction matters

23 January 2025

Step-by-Step - Level ◆◆◆

In my tutorials, I often emphasise the importance of brush stroke direction. I wanted explain in more detail why I think this subtle idea is quite fundamental.

The direction of your brush strokes does more than just apply paint to paper—it shapes the story your painting tells. The brush stroke direction creates convincing forms, guides movement and can infuse energy. Also, if you're thinking about your brush strokes, you're not on auto pilot. You're thinking! Always a good idea when painting ;-)