Some Knowledge

So, you want to paint like Vincent Van Gogh.  How do you go about achieving this effect in your paintings?

First, you will need canvas and an easel.  Set up your canvas on your easel.  Squeeze out a lot of vibrant colors on your palette.  Use plenty of yellow, red and blue.  Get a square brush about half an inch wide.  Be sure to have a little black on your palette for contrast and outlining.  Now think of a typical Van Gogh scene.  This will probably be flowers, a garden, a field, people eating potatoes, or the night sky.  Now, not too carefully, apply bold, vibrant brush strokes to your canvas.

Van Gogh was not a realist.  He was not an impressionist.  Van Gogh was Van Gogh.  Build up a scene from bold, beautiful strokes of the brush.  Do not be afraid to outline some of your elements in black.  Make sure you put in highlights of yellow.  Make your brush strokes move in patterns across the canvas.  One stroke should contrast with the one next to it.  You want to have clearly distinct patches of color that fit together like a puzzle.  Your lines should swirl and there should be a quality of light to your piece.

Once you have painted your masterpiece, sign your own name to it.  You are not a forger, you are emulating a famous artist’s style.  Step back from your work and notice that as you get farther away the picture comes into a kind of focus.  Get close to your work and notice how it resolves into seemingly meaningless patterns.  You have accomplished your goal.  Now, wait for the paint to dry and sell your work on Ebay.