Neuroaesthetics, the study of how the brain perceives art, offers a clue. When we see a painting that is overly rendered—every hair, every pore, every cloud edge smoothed to perfection—our brain processes it quickly. There is no mystery. There is no invitation.
Tape it to a rigid board using gummed paper tape. This prevents buckling and ensures the paper stays flat once it dries, allowing for more precise "dashes" of color. a little dash of the brush enature extra quality