Painting Exercise: Learning to Control Your Edges (Newburyport Art Tip)

This article comes from a workshop at The Artist’s Playground — a fun and relaxed session all about experimenting with edges in painting.

Learning to control your edges is one of the clearest signs of an accomplished painter. Whether you’re painting at home or attending an art class here in Newburyport, understanding when to soften or sharpen an edge can completely change how your artwork feels. In this exercise, we’ll practice controlling edges in a relaxed, no-pressure way, just for fun and growth.

What Are Hard and Soft Edges in Painting?

When every edge in a painting is hard, your subjects can look isolated or even cartoon-like. The classic rule says hard edges come forward, soft edges go back, but that’s just a starting point. Sometimes you’ll want to blur edges that technically “should” be sharp to make the composition feel softer or less distracting.

In the examples below, the flower on the left shows mostly hard edges, while the flower on the right uses softer, “lost” edges to create a gentler, more blended look.

This oil painting is a great example of all four edge types — hard, medium, soft, and lost — working together to create depth and visual harmony:

Edge Control Painting Exercise (Step-by-Step)

1. Draw your object three times. Use separate pieces of paper, no smaller than 5x7 and no larger than 11x14.

2. Focus on seeing, not perfecting. Spend time observing your object with squinted eyes, this helps you see value and softness.

3. Erase what disappears. Any lines that fade as you squint are the ones to blur or fuse once you begin painting.

4. Paint with edge variety. Aim for roughly one-third hard edges and two-thirds soft or lost edges.

Tip: This isn’t about perfection, it’s just a playful experiment to notice how edges affect depth and emotion.

Why Practice Edges in Painting?

This simple painting technique helps artists see how edge control creates emphasis and mood. Each painting you make will need a different mix of sharp and soft edges. Once you start to notice them, your paintings will feel more intentional, and more you.

Take It Further (Optional Challenge)

For more experienced painters:

• Let your subject take up most of the space.

• Let it touch one or two sides of the border.

• Include background objects to test how edges interact.

You’ll be amazed at how this improves your eye for composition and realism.

Want to Learn More Painting Techniques in Newburyport?

If you enjoyed this edge control exercise, join one of our art classes at The Artist’s Playground in Newburyport, MA. We explore topics like color mixing, composition, perspective, and more, all in a welcoming, stress-free environment.