Having a minor sense of deja vu when writing this, but couldn't find anything when I searched for it, so I'll try my luck anyway.

Just wondered if anyone have got any tips on how to practice "randomizing" elements in a scene, eg. how to avoid painting too much regularity in patterns, textures, trees etc. The challenge is well known, and even experienced painters often need to actively try to avoid painting things too "tidy" and symmetric, as that's how most human minds work. Most people's brains seek some kind of order, pushing us to paint equal spaces, sizes etc., thus making a scene look less natural than it should.

I'm a strong believer of the mantras "paint as much and often as you can" and "practise, practise, practise", but what kind of exercises are good for this particular problem? Are there any? I guess painting outside, exactly what you see, could be one, but that's not always convenient, and even then you have to simplify what you see, and - tada - regular patterns present themselves again, nonetheless.

For me, the problem also seems to get even worse, the more "loosely" and freely I try to paint. Meaning, when I don't plan and draw as much as I use to, just paint what I see, I have an even harder time avoiding regularity. It makes it harder going for a more impressionst approach.

Appreciate any feedback on the subject!