Two Simple Concepts that Unlock Bold, Vibrant Painting
People often ask me how I get so much energy into my brushstrokes.
The truth is — it’s not just about the paint. It’s about how you move your body.
Over the years of teaching, I’ve realised there are two concepts that change everything for my students. They’re simple, but powerful. And once you feel them, you’ll never go back.
1. Use Your Pencil Like a Brush
By holding the pencil overhand — like a brush — I can sweep across the page, shading and gesturing with my whole arm instead of writing with my fingers.
Part of my Mini Mastery postcard series — little teaching tools that help students remember the key concepts
When most people pick up a pencil, they hold it the same way they’ve written since school — the tripod grip. Perfect for neat handwriting, not so perfect for art. That grip locks your hand into small, controlled marks.
Instead, I teach my students to hold the pencil overhand, just like a paintbrush. Suddenly, you’re drawing from your arm, not your fingers. You can sweep across the page, block in tones, make flowing marks. It feels awkward at first — but it frees you. And it’s the first step towards painting boldly.
2. Find the Circle Within
The second concept is what I call The Circle Within.
When we paint or draw, we begin with an idea — an abstraction. Through the physical act of mark-making, that idea becomes form. To enter the rhythm of painting — that meditative artist’s trance — we need to connect body and medium.
These quick studies were drawn from the shoulder, using arcs, circles, S- and C-curves to establish flow. Notice how the lines connect parts of the figure, making it feel unified and alive.
The secret is to move from the shoulder joint, not just the wrist. From here, you find a natural flow. Circles, ellipses, S-curves, C-curves — these shapes carry energy and rhythm. They are the beginning of movement, the framework that unifies the painting.
The irony? We start with abstract marks, but they lead us into realism. That’s how a lily pond comes alive, or a still life breathes.
“From abstraction comes realism. Starting with rhythm and flow, the figure gradually takes form — alive, connected, and believable.
Why These Two Ideas Matter Together
Both Pencil as Brush and Circle Within shift us away from tight, cautious control — into movement, rhythm, and freedom. They help us connect our whole body to the act of painting.
This is how I create the bold brushstrokes and vibrant energy people recognise in my work. And it’s something anyone can learn.
The Lily Pond Trilogy — three large canvases built from arcs, circles, and sweeping brushstrokes. What begins as abstraction — rhythm, movement, energy — transforms into realism. This is the essence of how I paint: bold marks that carry life into the work.
Try It for Yourself
Next time you sit down to draw or paint:
Hold your pencil like a brush.
Move from your shoulder.
Begin with circles, arcs, S- and C-curves.
Let the rhythm flow before the detail arrives.
You’ll feel the difference in your body — and you’ll see the difference in your art.
✨ To paint with energy and boldness, you must first find the Circle Within.
