Zoom Class: Painterliness: Looseness and Bravura Brushwork

Tuesday evenings, 6-9 PM
Feb 24-March 3, March 17-April 7

Painterliness is less about a look than a way of thinking. This class focuses on how painters make decisions that let a painting feel alive rather than overworked or timid.

We’ll look at what painterly work actually shares in common—selective detail, confident marks, and an understanding of when information matters and when it doesn’t. You’ll learn how to let strong value structure and color temperature do most of the heavy lifting, freeing you from chasing every edge or contour. Paradoxically, painterliness starts with clarity, not looseness.

Through demonstrations and guided exercises, we’ll practice simplifying complex subjects into big shapes, choosing edges deliberately, and using brushwork as a tool for description rather than decoration. We’ll also address the habits that quietly kill painterliness: outlining, overblending, constant correcting, and the fear of committing to a mark.