Every brushstroke an artist makes has its own personality, a little like handwriting. Just as no two people write their letters exactly the same way, no two artists move their brush in exactly the same way.

Thick, swirly strokes make a painting feel wild, exciting, and full of energy. When you see big loops of paint, your eyes seem to dance and move along with them, and the picture feels busy and alive.

Tiny dabs and dots make a painting feel gentle, soft, and calm. Instead of one big splash, the artist builds the picture out of many little touches, almost like sprinkles on a cupcake.

Smooth, blended strokes make a painting feel quiet and peaceful, because you cannot even see where the brush went. Old paintings of kings and queens often use these calm strokes so everything looks polished and still.

The brush leaves the artist's fingerprint on every painting. By looking closely at how the strokes move, you can guess how the artist was feeling and even tell one artist apart from another, just like recognizing a friend's handwriting.