A Painting - A Painting Tip

oil   8x10"                  untitled                          

Silly, sneaky surf ---laying low and far out and then suddenly it comes up behind you and in one fast swoosh, wipes out all your best tunnels!  The kids just laugh and start again.  I guess that's the fun - to see how far you get before the sea pushes its way in to play.  Sea Ranch 2013.  I haven't  come up with a good name about the tide or surf...  open to suggestions, please!

Also, a painting tip - for those who want to paint more loosely.  
One technique that artist Peggy Kroll-Roberts uses to help students loosen up is the "25 strokes or less" exercise.
A quick overview.  (1) set up a simple still life...or figure or use a photo; (2) squeeze blobs of your usual colors around the palette edge;  (3) look at your subject and determine the colors you want to use --mix up big puddles of paint in various colors and set these, also, around your palette --leave room in the middle for any additional mixing you find you need along the way;  (4) draw in your composition;  (5) begin painting - AND COUNTING strokes.  Each time you pick up your brush-counts as a stroke. Use a large amount of paint on your brush, spread long strokes to cover as much of that color in your painting as you can.  See if you can complete the subject in 25 strokes.  Not easy, especially at first. It's fine if it's not a lovely painting - just keep trying.  

Peggy has a video that shows her doing this exercise and it really is helpful. "Limited Strokes".  You can find it on her website.  While you may or may not want to paint in her style...or use this approach all the time, it's a great way to get away from painting way too tight, too much detail.  Something I battle with ALL the time.