🎨 Express Yourself: Painting Like Van Gogh in the Wheatfields
Let’s talk about painting with feeling. Not careful, perfect, “stay-in-the-lines” painting—but bold, messy, emotional painting. The kind that pours straight from your gut onto the canvas.
And who better to guide us than Vincent van Gogh?
Specifically: his Wheatfields.
🌾 Why Wheatfields?
Van Gogh painted fields of wheat over and over again. But each one hits differently.
Some feel peaceful, some feel wild and stormy. In Wheatfield with Crows, there’s a kind of restless energy, like the sky might burst open any second. In Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds, the fields stretch forever—but the sky looms, heavy and uncertain.
It’s not about the wheat. It’s about what he felt while looking at it—and how he turned that emotion into color, motion, and texture.
That’s expressive painting. And you can do it too.
🖌 How to Paint Expressively (Van Gogh Style)
Step 1: Feel First, Paint Second
Before you touch a brush, stop and ask yourself:
What am I feeling today? What do I want this painting to say?
You’re not painting a wheat field. You’re painting your version of it—through your lens, with your emotions.
Step 2: Let Go of Perfection
No need to draw every blade of grass. Let your brush move the way you feel—quick, frantic strokes? Slow, smooth ones? Load it up with thick paint. Smear it. Scrape it. Let the texture become part of the story.
Step 3: Color Is Emotion
Van Gogh didn’t care if the sky was “really” that blue. Or if the wheat was that yellow. He used color like a mood ring—deep blues for sadness, fiery yellows for energy, stormy greens for tension.
Pick your colors based on the emotion you’re channeling, not just what’s “real.”
Step 4: Trust the Mess
Your painting might look chaotic. Good. Let it be. Expressive work isn’t about tidy lines—it’s about honesty.
🎯 Pro Tip: Don’t Paint for Anyone
This one’s just for you. Don’t overthink it. Don’t worry if it’s “good.” Focus on how it feels when you’re painting it. That’s where the magic is.
💭 A Thought to Take With You
Van Gogh once said,
“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.”
That’s what expressive painting is about. Passion. Feeling. Being fully present in the moment—even if it’s messy, raw, or complicated.
So go ahead. Pick up the brush. Let your field be wild, dark, bright, joyful—whatever you need it to be.
And don’t just paint what you see. Paint what you feel.
Here are some of Van Gogh’s most expressive wheatfield paintings to fuel your creative journey:
Wheatfield with Crows (1890)
A dramatic scene featuring a turbulent sky and a lone path cutting through a golden field. Often considered one of his most intense works.
Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds (1890)
Depicts a vast wheatfield beneath a stormy sky, conveying a sense of isolation and melancholy.
Green Wheat Field with Cypress (1889)
Features vibrant green wheat under a swirling sky, with a prominent cypress tree adding depth and contrast.
Wheat Field with a Lark (1887)
Shows a serene wheat field with a lark soaring above, capturing a moment of peace and freedom.
A Meadow in the Mountains: Le Mas de Saint-Paul (1889)
Portrays a wheat field in a mountainous setting, with soft colors and gentle brushwork reflecting tranquility.
Feel free to explore these pieces to inspire your own expressive painting!
