UNDERSTAND THE TECHNIQUE
Keep the marks separate
The rake brush has fibres of different lengths. The Fleury film explains that light contact can mainly engage the longer tips, while more paint and pressure join the marks. To keep the gaps visible, do not overload the head with a solid mass of paint. Start with a little paint and make a test stroke. If you only get a broad band, remove some paint, reduce the pressure and try again. If no continuous mark is possible at all, you may need a little more paint or a more suitable consistency. Deliberately compare a relatively dry head with a more heavily loaded one.
Fur follows a growth direction
When painting an animal, observe the direction of the fur in each area. It can change noticeably around eyes, the nose, joints and rounded parts of the body. Lay in larger light and dark areas first; add texture later. Use the rake in groups following the observed direction. Not every individual hair needs equal definition. A few emphasised areas along lit edges or in the foreground are often enough for the rest to read as fur.
Grass needs varied rhythms
A row of equally long, evenly spaced strokes can quickly resemble a comb. Vary the height, leave gaps and gather blades into small groups. Some groups can be denser, others more open. Rotate the head slightly and change the starting point. For a meadow, you can put down darker groups first, then add a few lighter ones after suitable drying. Keep quieter areas between them so the texture does not dominate equally everywhere.
Build layers rather than doing everything at once
With acrylic, it is often useful to develop the base colour and texture in separate stages. A still-workable layer can blur a new mark; a dry layer lets it remain more distinct. With oil, you can deliberately work with paint mixing or lifting, depending on your method. Test the response first. Do not keep adding thicker texture layers simply because the first mark was too weak. Check its tonal value and contrast with the surface first.
Add accents with a second brush
The rake creates the group; a liner or round brush can add individual hairs or grass blades that stand out. These additions break up repetition and give you more control over important areas. Use them sparingly. A subject does not automatically look more convincing when every area has the same number of details. Step back periodically and decide where more texture actually contributes to the subject.
All sketches show shape and movement direction schematically. The actual paint mark also depends on paint, surface and moisture.