Recently I've taken to bowl lathering and painting the lather gently on my beard area, without any type of "scrubbing". I would go so far as saying I "dab" the lather on. The results are excellent and there's something about the simple application of the lather that is quite satisfying.
Anyone else a painter?

I scrub on the first pass and paint on the second and third.

I scrub like I'm taking paint off!!! And soft, spineless brushes are for girls!!!

However, as I load soap so slowly and build a lather on the puck I don't have to do much scrubbing. It's basically ready to go and I mix scrubbing and painting. But any reapplication is painting on.

Even when I bowl lather or lather in my scuttle I still scrub a little on the first pass.

I also paint against the grain as the last thing before actually shaving. Not sure if that does anything important but it's part of my routine.

same here

After lathering the soap in it's bowl or tin, I will start out on my face in circular motions. After doing that, I will do the painting type strokes against and with the grain.

I've been moving in the opposite direction with my lathering. Strong, vigorous face lathering seems to work well for me.

Interesting point. Is it better to "leave" the lather in the direction of the grain or against it, theoretically lifting the hairs?

I honestly don't know. Mine ends with going WTG, works for me.

Don't over think it. It's just shaving.

I like to read the comments. This is clearly a light-hearted thread and it's only over-thinking if you think it's over-thinking...I think.

That's what I thought.

I actually scrub and paint, only because I hate making decisions

I face lather. I start out swirling the brush to get the lather started and finish with painting strokes on the initial application until it gets to the right consistency. Second application is mostly done with painting strokes. Quite artistic painting strokes, I might add.

Then I'm a girl. I have a couple of Kent brushes - soft, pillowly lather monsters. They work great if you know how to use 'em.

Does anyone here bloom their soap?

I know what you’re doing but I do run the puck under running hot water right before I load the brush and face lather.

You betcha. I LOVE the bloom. I love saying the word bloom. I live to bloom my soaps. Blooming soaps is the bomb. My day is not complete unless I bloom my soap. Unless of course it's a cream or a croap, in which case I eschew the proverbial bloom.