Painting with your “wrong hand” might be the right move for your art.
Using your non-dominant hand is a fun way to unlock looseness and whim.
Especially if you want to avoid tightness and overworking.
Some artists do this. But I never intentionally tried it myself, until this winter.
Let me share my story, and encourage you to try it.
Discovery By Constraint
I was painting outside on a cold Montana winter evening. My dominant hand was cold and in pain. My other grasped a hand warmer, nestled in a cozy pocket. The light was changing fast. I didn’t have time to stop and warm my dominant hand. So I simply switched my painting hand. It was clumsy and awkward. But the result was surprising. My brushstrokes were free, bold, fast, and refreshingly imperfect. This is why I love plein air painting: embracing constraints for creative results.
Lose Control To Increase Freshness
When you paint with your non-dominant hand, you lose fine motor control. This is a big benefit! Instead of overthinking details, you focus on big shapes. You have playful application. You get a whimsical impression. Less finesse means more gesture and energy. It feels odd, but adds unexpected freshness and creativity to your paintings.
Give Your “Wrong Hand” A Try
You don’t need to paint the whole painting with your non-dominant hand. Try just a few strokes. If you want to see me do this—and see my results—check out this YouTube video. My friends and professional artists Tara Will and Ben Hamburger advocate this technique. And now I know why!
Give it a try. See how your “wrong hand” sparks new levels of creativity in your art!