Priya Kapoor
Vincent van Gogh is one of the most beloved painters of all time, and his unique style is highly sought-after today. Van Gogh's style is characterised by choppy brush strokes, expressive lines, and wavy directions, with short angular brush strokes that lead the eye in different directions. To paint like Van Gogh, it is recommended to tint your canvas with an overall colour, use a limited colour palette, and resist the urge to blend. Van Gogh worked quickly, without cleaning his brush between colours, and used large hog hair brushes with no medium. His paintings were inspired by his emotions and memories, and he often painted everyday subjects from life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Canvas | Tinted with an overall colour, such as yellow ochre or blue |
| Brushes | Large hog hair filbert brushes, flat filbert brush |
| Paint | Oil paint, acrylic paint, gouache |
| Colours | Red Lake, Vermillion, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Violet, Emerald Green, Viridian, Prussian Blue, Chrome Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Ochre |
| Brushstrokes | Short, angular, choppy |
| Technique | Expressionist, Impressionist, Pointillist, Alla prima, Outlining |
| Style | Post-Impressionist |
| Process | Worked from life, painted quickly, didn't blend colours, used thick paint, used directional lines |
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What You'll Learn
Tint your canvas
To paint like Van Gogh, it is important to tint your canvas before starting. This provides a good foundation to work with, especially if you plan to work in layers as Van Gogh did. It also makes the daunting white canvas a little less intimidating.
Van Gogh tinted his canvas using an underpainting technique, opting for colours like yellow ochres or blues. You can use acrylic paint thinned with water and let it dry, or you can use a thinned oil paint. Remember the "fat over lean" rule for longevity and for the paint to adhere properly.
Van Gogh mainly used a matte canvas which he stretched himself, but he also experimented with unprimed surfaces, like hessian, to paint on. He also used large hog hair brushes and no medium. His palette included many of the new 19th-century colours favoured by the Impressionists, including Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine, Prussian Blue, Viridian Green, Chrome Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Vermilion, and Ochre.
Van Gogh would paint quickly, without cleaning his brush between picking up new colours. He would slur the paints together when applying them to the canvas, creating a vibrant effect. He also used short, angular brush strokes, which would lead the eye in a particular direction.
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Use a limited palette
One of the most distinctive features of Van Gogh's painting style is his use of colour. Van Gogh's paintings are known for their vivid colours and expressive hues. To achieve this, he often used a limited palette of colours, carefully selected to create a bold and dramatic effect.
During Van Gogh's time, oil paints were expensive, so he typically worked with a limited range of colours. In his later years, he primarily used reds, blues, greens, and whites. Specifically, his palette consisted of Red Lake, Vermillion, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Violet, Emerald Green, and Viridian.
By restricting his palette, Van Gogh was able to create striking combinations that drew attention to the emotional impact of his work. He understood the power of colour juxtaposition and often allowed colours to sit next to each other without blending, creating a vibrant and expressive effect. This technique, known as "optical blending," was a characteristic of Post-Impressionist art.
To emulate Van Gogh's style, it is essential to study his use of colour carefully. Notice how he combines colours to create a sense of light and form, often with unexpected shadow colours that add to the overall vibrancy of the painting. For example, the sky in his paintings is often depicted with broken colours of similar values, adding depth and energy to the composition.
When attempting to paint like Van Gogh, it is beneficial to limit your palette to the colours he would have used. This restriction can help you focus more on the painting process and the emotional expression of the artwork. By understanding Van Gogh's approach to colour and his unique techniques, you can begin to capture the essence of his style in your own creations.
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Resist the urge to blend
One of the key characteristics of Van Gogh's painting style is his use of bold, choppy brush strokes and expressive, wavy lines. To achieve this distinctive look, it is important to resist the urge to blend colours together on the canvas. Instead, quickly layer paint without cleaning the brush between colours. This technique, known as slurring, creates a vibrant and dynamic effect as the eye optically blends the colours from a distance.
Van Gogh's unique style was influenced by his study of Impressionism and Pointillism, as well as his interest in Japanese art and woodblock prints. He often used dark outlining to accentuate objects and create a sense of movement and form. By not blending his paints, Van Gogh achieved a textured surface with visible brush strokes, adding depth and dimension to his paintings.
To emulate Van Gogh's style, use a flat, filbert brush and load it with paint. Apply short, angular brush strokes in different directions—vertically, diagonally, and with quick flicks at right angles. This technique will create the choppy, expressive lines that are characteristic of Van Gogh's work.
It is important to note that Van Gogh did not completely avoid blending his colours. He sometimes mixed paints on the canvas by laying strokes next to each other. However, he generally avoided overdoing this technique and preferred to use separate brushes for darker and lighter colours to maintain their purity.
By resisting the urge to blend and embracing Van Gogh's bold, choppy brush strokes, you can capture the passion and emotion that characterise his unique style.
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Use short, angular strokes
To paint in the style of Van Gogh, one must understand his unique approach to painting. Van Gogh was a confident drawer and worked boldly, directly applying paint to alla prima canvases to establish the contours of his subjects. His style is characterised by choppy brush strokes, expressive lines, and wavy directions. He painted quickly and passionately, without cleaning his brush between colours, creating a slurred effect on the canvas.
One of the key techniques in Van Gogh's style is the use of short, angular brush strokes. He primarily used a flat, filbert brush, loading it with paint and then applying short, quick strokes in various directions. By experimenting with angular directional lines, such as vertical and diagonal flicks, artists can emulate the dynamic movement in Van Gogh's paintings. This technique is evident in his work "Road with Cypress and Star," where the brush strokes guide the viewer's eye upwards and outwards, creating a sense of energy and depth.
When using short, angular strokes, it is essential to consider the direction and placement of each stroke carefully. Van Gogh's brushwork often followed the form of the subject, using the strokes to model the contours and shapes. For example, when painting trees, the angular strokes might carry the viewer's eye upwards, while painting a path might involve strokes that lead the eye outwards. This technique adds depth and dimension to the painting, creating a sense of movement and guiding the viewer's gaze.
Additionally, Van Gogh often worked with a limited colour palette, focusing on hues such as red, blue, green, and white in his later years. By limiting the colours available, artists can create a cohesive and balanced composition while also simplifying the decision-making process. This limited palette also contributes to the overall style and mood of the painting, allowing the angular brush strokes to stand out and create a sense of texture and energy.
Practising and experimenting with different techniques is crucial to mastering the style of Van Gogh. By studying his work, understanding his unique approach, and applying these techniques, artists can create vibrant and expressive paintings that capture the essence of Van Gogh's iconic style.
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Find inspiration in your surroundings
To paint like Van Gogh, you must find inspiration in your surroundings. Van Gogh and the Post-Impressionists drew on their emotions and memories to create and connect with their art. Van Gogh's work was deeply personal to him, and he often painted everyday subjects, such as his bedroom or cafes. You don't need grand views or exotic locations to paint in the style of Van Gogh. Simply step outside and try plein air painting, or stay indoors and paint what you see.
Van Gogh was a master at observing and capturing the beauty in the mundane. He once said that he "didn't paint what he saw, but what he felt". This approach to painting allowed him to express his emotions and interpret the world through his unique lens. By embracing this philosophy, you can find inspiration in the most unexpected places and create art that is deeply personal and meaningful.
When painting in the style of Van Gogh, it is essential to consider the colours and techniques he favoured. Van Gogh often used a limited colour palette, as oil paints were expensive during his time. He primarily worked with reds, blues, greens, and whites, along with specific shades like Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine, and Cadmium Yellow. Additionally, Van Gogh was known for his choppy brushstrokes, expressive lines, and wavy directions. He often painted quickly, without cleaning his brush between colours, creating a unique blend on the canvas.
To truly embrace Van Gogh's style, you can experiment with angular directional lines. Play with vertical and diagonal strokes, and try quick flicks of the brush at right angles. Van Gogh often used a flat, filbert brush, loading it with paint and then applying short, angular brushstrokes. By studying Van Gogh's paintings, you can identify the techniques he used and incorporate them into your own work.
Lastly, remember that Van Gogh was a passionate and confident artist who worked boldly. He was not afraid to experiment and break the rules, developing his unique style. By embracing his fearless approach to art, you can find inspiration in your surroundings and create paintings that capture the essence of Van Gogh's style while infusing them with your unique perspective and emotions.
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Frequently asked questions
Van Gogh's style is unique, characterised by choppy brush strokes, expressive lines, and wavy directions. To paint like him, you can try the following:
- Tint your canvas with an overall colour that you see in the work.
- Use a limited palette with colours like Red Lake, Vermillion, Cadmium Yellow, Cobalt Blue, and Emerald Green.
- Use short, angular brush strokes with a flat, filbert brush.
- Paint quickly, without cleaning your brush between colours.
- Find inspiration in your everyday surroundings.
Van Gogh was inspired by Impressionism and Pointillism, as well as artists like Rembrandt, Delacroix, and Millet. He also drew inspiration from Japanese printmakers like Hokusai.
Van Gogh used oil paints and large hog hair brushes with no medium. He worked on matte canvases, which he stretched himself, and also experimented with unprimed surfaces like hessian.
