brushwork

Everyday

The way a painter uses a paintbrush, and the marks the brush leaves on a painting. tree →

In the lessons

In art lessons pupils look at brushwork to talk about a painting: thick, swirly brushwork (Van Gogh), tiny dots, smooth blending or quick dabs (Monet and the Impressionists). It tells the reader about the artist's style and skill. Phrases: «loose brushwork», «bold brushwork».

Examples

• Van Gogh's brushwork is thick and swirly. tree →
• Our teacher praised my careful brushwork. tree →
• You can see the brushwork up close on the canvas. tree →
• Monet used quick, loose brushwork to paint water. tree →
• Chinese brushwork uses ink and a soft brush. tree →
• The brushwork made the sky look windy. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «brushwork», not «a brushwork». Written as one word: brush + work. It is about how the paint is put on, not about cleaning brushes.