When we talk about painting, the first thing that comes into our minds are the conventional materials that we use to create such art: the canvas, paint brushes, and the medium such as acrylic paint, oils, and watercolor. The traditional method is well-loved, but now that we’re in the modern era where innovations are widely accepted, seeking new painting techniques has become the norm. These days, most artists challenge the conventional by providing viewers with the unconventional ways they create their art, showing that it’s possible to create paintings despite the absence of painting materials. In this article, we will see if there is such a thing as painting without brushes. Plus, we will also be sharing some of the ways that you can apply paint in your canvas without the need of any brushes. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
With all the different variations of brushes out there, it may be quite intimidating for beginner painters to use them knowing that each brush serves a different purpose. We all know that in order to achieve certain textures and effects in painting, you have to use different types of paint brushes. There are textures and effects that you cannot achieve if you won’t use a certain type of brush. But also, there are effects and textures that some brushes cannot replicate. So yes, painting without brushes is very possible! Below are some of the methods you can employ, as well as the materials that you can use as a paint brush substitute.
Different Styles and Techniques To Use When Painting Without Brushes
Acrylic Pouring:
Also known as flow painting, this technique is very suitable for beginners because it requires no skills with just a few materials. Thus, there are also different ways to execute this technique depending on the availability of the materials you have and the effects that you want to achieve. The pouring method is an incredible way to create abstract pieces and its increasing popularity online has inspired so many artists outside the abstract genre to try this simple technique. Moreover, to make this technique easier, there are available acrylic pouring kits that you can readily purchase for this activity.
Splatter Painting:
This is a variation of action painting where the pigments are carelessly applied on the canvas by spontaneously splattering the paint on the surface. This technique was popularized by artists such as Jackson Pollock during the abstract expressionism movement in the 1950s. The creative process of splatter painting is simple and good for emotional release. There’s no formula with this technique, just follow your intuition and splatter the pigments on the canvas. How to splash, the choices of the colors, directions, and the materials you use are all up to your preferences.
Scraping:
Scrape painting is another way to do painting without brushes. The process is very easy and it only requires you to have a canvas, painting medium (preferably acrylic paint), and some flat tools (see the list of tools below) that you can use to scrape the paint on the canvas. Scrape painting emphasizes the process of color mixing. This happens when you overlap colors and scrape them, creating gradient tones and new shades in the canvas.
Stamping:
Who remembers this fun activity during childhood when we used to bring varieties of fruits and vegetables cut in half and use them as a stamp for our painting project? Well, if you do, you’re going to love this painting with brushes technique because it brings back the memories. Plus, if you’re familiar with the process, then this will just be easy for you. Think about anything that you can use as a stamp, not only sliced fruits and veggies. The key to a great stamp painting is creating impeccable textures and effects that cannot be recreated by a paint brush.
Palette Knife Painting:
If you’ve been painting for quite some time now and you’ve been collecting painting tools, then you must have a palette knife (or even a set of them) somewhere. Similar to regular brushes, they also come in a variety of shapes and sizes that serve different purposes. We usually use palette knives to mix our paint with another paint, etc. But, do you know that you can use this in place of paint brushes to create striking details, effects, and textures? If not, you should try this technique. This technique works best on oils (or acrylic paint mixed with a retarding agent) and the process is somewhat like the regular painting process with brushes only that you use palette knives. This works well especially, if you want an impasto-effect similar to Van Gogh’s paintings.
Key Takeaways
Exploring substitutes for painting materials is also an incredible way to save money, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Painting without brushes is one of the examples of unconventionality, so keep on innovating as an artist and go beyond the traditions.
