From Marion Boddy-Evans,
Your Guide to Painting.
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Tip 6. Try unrealistic colours:
Instead of worrying whether you've got accurate colours, try some that are completely unrealistic. Paint a self-portrait in your favourite colours rather than skin tones. The result will probably be a lot more emotive – and certainly dramatic.

Tip 7. Paint with water:
First paint your subject with clean water only (okay, not if you're using oils!). This familiarises you with your subject. Then introduce colour, which'll flow into the wet areas. Don't try to stop the paint from spreading or worry about the colours becoming 'wrong'. Wait until you've finished, then see if you like the result.

Tip 8. Apply masking fluid:
Masking fluid enables you to block out areas a watercolour so you don't have to worry about accidentally painting there. For example, instead of painstakingly trying to paint around the petals of a white daisy, paint the petals in masking fluid first. You can then paint freely safe in the knowledge that your white petals will appear pristine when you rub off the masking fluid (do it as soon as your painting is dry; it becomes harder to remove the longer it's on the paper).

Tip 9. Use a BIG brush:
Painting with a big brush makes it hard to put down detail. A big brush encourages you to use your whole arm to make broad, sweeping strokes. Use a flat brush not a round one because you're wanting to increase significantly the width of the painting strokes you make.

Tip 10. Use a ridiculously long brush:
Take a stick at least a metre/yard long and tape it to the handle of your brush. Put a large piece of paper on the floor. Now paint. The long brush handle exaggerates the movement of your hand and arm, creating longer marks on the paper than you'd usually make. Don't fight this by trying to make smaller movements!

Go to tips 1 to 5