I use a big brush whenever I can. If you haven't already, give it a try. A two inch brush of good quality so the bristles don't fall out, bought from your local hardware store, is all you need. I use it for softening outlines, blending colors already painted on the canvas and much more. The old masters used big brushes.
With a big brush you can lay on a slab of color or different colors and with a dry two inch brush you can do magic. I like to have a little linseed oil on the canvas first, then the paint, then the big brush. The effects you can make are endless.
