Painting with and without a paintbrush

1. Get to know your brushes. On a piece of paper make as many different strokes using all the brushes you have. Flat, round, liner, filbert, angled, foam, fan, textured, soft & stiff.

2. Apply a puddle of paint in a paper plate, then bounce the sponge into it. Apply the sponge with paint, to dry paper then try it on a wet surface too.

3. Apply wax to paper or surface and paint over with watery paint, the wax with appear.

4. Paint on a slick surface and pick up the paint with a paper = monoprint. You can repeat to cover the paper.

5. Wet the paper and using a large brush apply generous amount of watery paint to make a wash of that color.

6. Wet the paper and drop several intense colors = jewels. Wet into wet!

7. Wet the paper, paint a rich dark color and just before it dries sprinkle salt! Let it dry, the salt will leave crystal spots.

8. Paint one color like yellow, red, and blue and let it dry. Then paint over them in a different direction. Don't use the paint too thick to reveal the transparency! and new colors.

9. Use a puddle of paint in a plate and different objects, bounce the object in the paint and apply it on your paper or support. You could use, crinkled paper, cork, cardboard, q-tips, sponges, etc.

10. For interesting edges use painter's tape and apply it to your paper or support. Rub the tape to secure, paint over edges you like and let dry. Remove to reveal the edge. You can tear the tape for rough edges.

11. Wet the paper and apply a wash of rich color. Quickly apply saran wrap for crackly texture. Let dry.

12. Scratch paper with a nail or piece of sharp plastic like a cut up credit card, then apply a wash of color, the scratches with will be darker.

13. In a paper plate or tray apply a layer of shaving cream evenly about 1/2 inch thick. Drop several fluid acrylics drops of colors over the shaving cream then use a palette knife to swirl them around. Press light weight paper over the paint and shaving cream and press to pick up the paint. Use a squeegee to remove the shaving cream and reveal the paint designs.

14. Wet the paper and apply a wash of color. Use soft tissue paper to pick up the color, great for highlights or clouds.

15. Take aluminum foil and texture the surface by crinkling, rubbing it over a textured surface and rubbing it into the textures or drawing on it with a dull pencil or dowel. Flatten it then using acrylic paint paint over the surface. Best if you use transparent colors. You can rub off the top surfaces for an antique look.

16. On a slick surface (sheet protectors work well or freezer paper) dribble and drop acrylic paint colors and polymer on the surface thickly and let dry (usually 2 days or more). Peel carefully to apply on your support, attach with polymer. Skins are sticky and to store keep with between sheets of acetate.

17. On your paper establish large areas you want of a color. Create boundaries using painter's tape or molding paste, etc.

In a cup mix the color you want + water (watercolors) or color + polymer + water equally (acrylics) then pour onto your support in the areas and let them mingle, tilt to move the paint around or help it along with a brush.