What are brush strokes?

Brush strokes are the lines and shapes you make when you move a brush on paper, just like how your finger leaves marks on a wall when you draw with it.

Imagine you're using a big sponge to paint a picture of rain. Each time you press the sponge against the paper and move it, that's one brush stroke. It could be long and wavy, like water flowing down a window, or short and squiggly, like the raindrops themselves.

Like Drawing with Your Finger

If you’ve ever drawn on a wall with your finger, you know how each little movement makes a mark. A brush stroke is just that, but instead of your finger, it's a brush, and instead of a wall, it's paper (or canvas or even a shirt!).

Big Strokes vs Small Strokes

Sometimes you use big, bold strokes to make the sky look wide and open. Other times, tiny, quick strokes can show something small, like a leaf on a tree.

Each brush stroke is part of your picture, just like each step you take is part of your journey!

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Examples

  1. A child draws a sun with big, wobbly lines on paper.
  2. An artist uses quick, short strokes to make leaves look soft and lively.
  3. A painter makes bold, sweeping movements across the canvas.

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