My Top Secret Tip to Paint Loosely

Have you ever wondered what makes painting loosely so appealing—and why it can be so tricky? For me, it’s a constant battle to let go of tiny details and focus on the bigger picture. The real challenge is figuring out what matters most in a painting and letting everything else go. That’s the puzzle I’m trying to solve with loose painting.

It’s easy to get caught up in adding too much detail, especially with figurative work, but that can leave the piece feeling stiff. The magic happens when you loosen your brushstrokes—suddenly, the painting has life, movement, and energy.

The beauty of loose painting lies in its simplicity. It’s all about bold brushwork and using big shapes to define objects. I like to think of these shapes as pieces of a puzzle that fit together just right. But how do you focus on those key elements without getting overwhelmed by all the little problems that come with painting? Lately, I’ve been trying to simplify things in my life, and that approach is finding its way into my art as well.

One trick I’ve found helpful is working from a photo reference but stripping away as much unnecessary detail as possible. I often tweak the image so much that the final painting barely resembles the original. Here’s what I do: I lower the resolution of the photo to the point where all I see are large, abstract shapes—no distractions, no tiny details to obsess over.

Recently, I painted a portrait this way. The original photo was packed with detail, but I reduced the resolution from 72 to just 4. Suddenly, the figure became a collection of simple shapes and subtle colors I hadn’t noticed before. I used gouache for this piece, and while capturing a likeness is always important, my goal was to convey the essence of the person. I think I pulled it off.

I hope this little trick helps you too—or maybe you’ve already been doing something similar all along! If so, the secret’s out now.