Painting is a profound alchemy — the seamless union of intention and chance, control and surrender, technique and intuition. At the heart of this alchemical dance lies the power of the brushstroke, a vessel channeling the artist’s creative energy onto the canvas. Whether you wield a delicate sable or a sturdy hog-bristle, the brush is the conduit through which you express the very essence of your artistic vision.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
In the realm of intuitive painting, the ebb and flow of the brushwork takes on a transcendent quality, revealing the artist’s unspoken dialogue with the canvas. Here, the boundaries between conscious control and spontaneous expression blur, inviting the viewer into a realm of unpredictable beauty and uncharted creative possibilities.
Embracing Entropy: The Intuitive Painting Process
The concept of entropy — the measure of disorder within a system — lies at the heart of many avant-garde artistic movements. Artists who embrace entropy in their practice actively invite chance, chaos, and the unexpected into their creative process, challenging the notion of the canvas as a tightly controlled medium.
As Pablo González-Trejo eloquently explores, entropy-infused art thrives on the interplay between conscious intent and serendipitous discovery. By surrendering a measure of control to the unknown, artists unlock untapped realms of creativity, allowing breakthroughs that meticulous planning might overlook.
This philosophy of embracing the unpredictable is beautifully embodied in the work of Susan Tuttle, an artist whose intuitive painting process is akin to a dance with the elements. Tuttle’s vibrant, water-infused canvases showcase a masterful command of fluid media, where color and form are allowed to unfold organically, guided by the artist’s intuitive touch and the inherent properties of her chosen materials.
“My approach involves an alchemy of pigment and water applied to the canvas; an integration of a minimum amount of control and manipulation on my part melded with a greater amount of activity that is governed by the properties of water and its reactions with matter and other environmental factors.”
— Susan Tuttle
Tuttle’s painting process is a true testament to the power of letting go. By relinquishing the need for rigid control, she allows the canvas to become a stage for an unfolding choreography, where paint, water, and environmental factors collaborate to create mesmerizing, abstract compositions.
Cultivating Intuitive Brushwork
Mastering the art of intuitive painting is not merely a technical pursuit but a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. As Katie Swatland eloquently states, “Every painting is built one brushstroke at a time and one breath at a time — with the rise and fall of each breath corresponding to the movement of the brush across the canvas.”
The connection between the breath and the brush is a subtle, yet powerful, element in Swatland’s approach to painting. By synchronizing her brushwork with the rhythm of her breathing, she cultivates a meditative state, allowing her intuition to guide the flow of pigment across the canvas.
This mindful approach extends to Swatland’s exploration of brush handling and stroke dynamics. Through dedicated exercises and studies, she unlocks the diverse capabilities of her brushes, exploring how adjustments in angle, grip, and paint application can translate into a rich vocabulary of expressive marks.
“Spend time discovering the possibilities contained within the brush, and explore how the breath affects the brushwork. Remember, everything ultimately returns to the breath.”
— Katie Swatland
By honing her brush mastery and infusing her process with the breath, Swatland empowers her artistic intuition to take the lead, resulting in paintings that capture the energy and essence of her subjects with a captivating spontaneity.
Embracing Color and Texture
Intuitive painting is not merely about the dance of the brushstroke; it is also a celebration of color and texture, the very building blocks of the painted image. Artists who embrace the alchemy of brushwork often do so with a profound understanding of the expressive potential of their chosen mediums.
For Susan Tuttle, the use of fluid acrylics and water-based media is a means of channeling the elemental energy of water, a substance she sees as embodying a “feminine energy” and possessing “magnetic properties” that inform her creative process.
Tuttle’s paintings are characterized by a lush, luminous palette and a mesmerizing interplay of saturated hues. By layering and manipulating these vibrant pigments with water, she creates a sense of movement and depth that invites the viewer to get lost in the meandering pathways of color.
“The water’s movement allows for beauty in the form of swirls, drips, pathways, and ice-cracked lines. It can be a challenge when it comes to retaining clarity and a sense of purpose in shape, mark, and color, as any deliberate painterly gestures and strokes can get swallowed up by the water’s natural whirling, twisting, and warping nature.”
— Susan Tuttle
But intuitive painting is not solely the domain of fluid media; artists working in traditional media like oils and acrylics can also harness the power of texture and surface quality to amplify the expressive qualities of their brushwork.
Impasto techniques, where paint is applied in thick, sculptural layers, can imbue a painting with a tactile, almost three-dimensional quality. This approach allows the artist to capture the energy and physicality of the brushstroke, transforming the canvas into a tangible extension of the creative process.
Tapping into Symbolic Imagery and Emotional Expression
While the technical mastery of brushwork and color is essential, true intuitive painting often draws its inspiration from the realm of the subconscious, where symbolic imagery and emotional expression take center stage.
Artists like Pablo González-Trejo incorporate elements of surrealism and metaphor into their work, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination. By tapping into the power of archetypes and symbolic language, they invite the viewer to engage with the artwork on a deeper, more visceral level.
González-Trejo’s paintings, for example, are imbued with a sense of cosmic wonder, where vibrant hues and seemingly chaotic patterns coalesce to create a gateway into an imaginative, illusory realm. His embrace of entropy as a catalyst for artistic evolution allows him to challenge conventional notions of representation, inviting the viewer to explore the interplay between order and disorder, reality and illusion.
“Vibrant colors coming from historical pigments like Lapis Lazuli converge in seemingly chaotic patterns, embodying the essence of entropy’s disorder. Amidst this chaos, I employ techniques of illusion, using perspective and shading to craft an intricately cosmic scene.”
— Pablo González-Trejo
By tapping into the emotive and symbolic potential of their brushwork, intuitive painters can craft deeply resonant artworks that transcend the purely aesthetic. These paintings become portals into the artist’s inner world, reflecting their unique perspectives, experiences, and the very essence of their creative spirit.
Embracing the Journey: The Evolving Art of Intuitive Painting
The art of intuitive painting is an ever-evolving journey, one that encourages artists to embrace the unknown, trust their instincts, and surrender to the alchemy of the creative process. Whether you’re drawn to the fluidity of water-based media, the sculptural qualities of impasto, or the symbolic power of expressive brushwork, the path to mastering this approach is paved with experimentation, self-discovery, and a willingness to let go.
As you embark on your own intuitive painting journey, remember the wise words of Susan Tuttle: “The process raises questions for me about reality, illusion, free will, destiny, power and control, luck and chance, pathways and journeys, alchemy, beauty, wonder, joy, miracles, attention, intention, intuition, and trust.”
By cultivating a deep understanding of your materials, a mindful connection to your breath, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected, you’ll unlock the true potential of your brushwork, allowing your artistic expression to flow freely and your creativity to flourish. Visit Pencil and Paint Muse for more inspiring insights and practical tutorials to guide you on your intuitive painting journey.
Example: Modern Abstract Painting Series 2024