In Praise of MESSY Painting

I taught 4 workshops this summer and I could not keep track of how many times I heard this apology, "my painting is really messy".
Just last week in class, I found myself explaining to a new painter who has a very distinctive technique - why she should not be  "cleaning up her act".
Why is it - everyone wants to be LOOSE, but unwilling to be MESSY?
We see "loose" as confident, maybe even disciplined, but messy is just . . . . messy.
or is it just. . . loose?
I am not a messy painter - but I keep workin' at it.
Maybe, it's because the more homogenized and tidy work I see- the more BORED I get.  My bent toward plein air painting is largely because it CAN be direct, passionate, and just this side of totally out of control.
Save the tight and tidy work for the studio.
But that is just me . . . .
So if you have a gift for "messy painting" - embrace it.  Don't compare your work with your neighbor's;  focus on the foundational skills:  design, value, strong shapes, color mastery -
and your work will improve naturally.
Those things that make you cringe today - tomorrow could be a gold mine.

Always be a learner.

This is my class demo from our morning in the park.


I have enclosed links to some painters who move in the fabulously "messy" vein.
Diane Ainsworth  http://dianeainsworth.com/workszoom/2317119

Nicolai Fechin  http://www.taosartmuseum.org/fechin.html

Walt Gonske http://waltgonske.com/workszoom/1498434

Ulrich Gleiter    http://www.ulrichgleiter.com

Class Notes: Gettin' Loose

Things with wheels are tricky. Un huh,
but our class discussions have been more about painting technique than those pesky ellipses - (see Class Notes on drawing ellipses).
Specifically, students  want to know how to make work that appears (operative word here is "appears") loose.  The question being "How do I get loose."
Hmmm. . . .
That could be answered several ways,  but as to painting technique - almost every artist is looking for a way to make their work look fresh and effortless. This is the big irony in art - because creating "loose work" takes more thinking, greater mastery, and more discipline, than tight work.  That one, seemingly tossed-off, and perfect stroke takes more skill than many small, repeated strokes.  I believe tight, detailed work is easier than skilled loose painting. Really, if it were easy - everyone would be doing it.
Bottom line: the appearance of looseness in a painting is a viewer's perception - not a process.
Having said that  - I do have a few tips for creating the perception of looseness in your work.
1. Use a bigger brush that will not allow you to "fix" everything.
2. Don't use two strokes when one will do.
3. Never brush over the same stroke twice.
4. Show off under paint when ever you can.
5. Use "active brushwork" in large quiet areas.
6. Add hits of heavy paint in the focal area.
7. Stay mentally engaged and discipline yourself to make every stroke count.

I hear painters say, so often - "I'm trying to get loose." - it makes me laugh. My response is - "don't try - do it".
To paint in a fashion that give the appearance of effortless joie de vivre,  in fact, takes a lot of practice, and determined discipline.
Go for it!
and when someone comments on your "loose approach" - just shrug and say "it was nothing".