Just One Brush

I painted 'The Golden Fleece' above using just one flat square brush and by using the corner, edge or angling the brush in different ways I was able to make a wide range of different marks and brush strokes. It was a really rewarding painting experience and a good reminder for me of how some of the best creative moments can occur when limitations are imposed on us, either by choice or not. Deliberately choosing a limited palette forces one to make bold decisions with colour, restricting the time to complete a painting makes for bolder strokes, and limiting oneself to the use of a single brush encourages a creative approach to mark making, plus it's really good fun!
The sheep and lamb painting above has combined both abstract and representational aspects and reminds me of some life studies I painted a few years ago under similar constraints. Practicing this style of working helps me reinforce the importance of simplifying form while allowing oneself the freedom to take risks with an uncontrolled flourish here and there.
And I really like how the lamb in the bottom right corner almost disappears into the painting :-)