Just remember, the idea in this technique is to lightly wisp the color onto the surface. Use very light pressure and experiment with a variety of application techniques. Crosshatch patterns are very effective because they are random, easy to master and give the illusion of marvelous textures without a lot of surface preparation. Simply by dragging a very lightly charged brush across even the smoothest surface, one can create a contrasting and broken pattern over the surface. The length of the drag can be altered within a specific project to yield interesting patterns.
Contrast is an important issue, too.
Some consideration should be given to severe color contrasts, as they may struggle for dominance and spoil the effect desired. Stippling is another method of application that does very well with a very lightly charged paintbrush. If the brush is too full of paint, it will yield a speckled, highly contrasted surface that appears to be splotched rather than blended to a soft and controlled surface. Practice with the amount of paint and the brush to achieve the look you like best. Use the very paint colors you will be working with on your finished project and do samples that are at least two feet square.