When is the last time you....

Syl wrote:..took up a new hobby?

I started my latest one today, painting with water colours.
Now, I am quite artistic, a good drawer and sketcher, and I have made lots of greeting cards for people who happily pay between  £5 and £10 for a  hand made card....but I got bored with that.

So painting was my next project....and after buying all the appropriate materials I settled down today to create a masterpiece.

I am crap at it.

eddie wrote:Practice. Or perhaps you'll fare better with oils?

You should speak to sassy. She paints. She might give you some pointers x

Ben_Reilly wrote:I try new things all the time, my latest is grilling out -- that was a blast!

As for art, I think it's more about finding out what you have the technical skill to do that creates the effect you want. There have been plenty of artists (in visual, music, literature, etc.) who didn't have the greatest technique by far, but they figured out how to do interesting things within their limitations. I mean, Mick Jagger can barely carry a tune!

Syl wrote:

eddie wrote:Practice. Or perhaps you'll fare better with oils?

You should speak to sassy. She paints. She might give you some pointers x

I wont give up eddie....I have put my first attempt on my avi.
My OH got it out of the bin and moaned because he said I expected to much to soon.

I did think about oils, and acrylics, but decided to start with water colours, I have not painted since schooldays and thought it would be easier....I don't think it is though.

Syl wrote:It looks better in miniature Miffs....but thanks I appreciate the encouragement,.
I will pop the other one on soon , a portrait....not sure of who though.

Raggamuffin wrote:It looks pretty good to me Syl. I used to do watercolours myself. Just experiment with textures and different amounts of water.

sassy wrote:

Syl wrote:It looks better in miniature Miffs....but thanks I appreciate the encouragement,.
I will pop the other one on soon , a portrait....not sure of who though.

Your avi is your painting, that's great!   Love to see people expressing themselves and it has depth, really like it.

I actually loathe to paint with watercolours, because of the way you have to work, leaving out the white etc.  I love acrylics, because you work from the base up, layering.  You can also water them down and use like watercolours, or use them like oils.

aspca4ever wrote:Stippling and chalk was what I enjoyed the best; and frankly Syl...aren't we all far to critical of our own art work.  I mean I've got sketches from way back in high school that I didn't turn in for grading but now I'm pretty dang amaze that my sketches weren't as horrible as I'd thought. 

If you have the space & or storage - save those; you are aware of those first basic drawings that the masters kept --- look at what they've brought for $$$$.  LOL

Syl wrote:

sassy wrote:


Your avi is your painting, that's great!   Love to see people expressing themselves and it has depth, really like it.

I actually loathe to paint with watercolours, because of the way you have to work, leaving out the white etc.  I love acrylics, because you work from the base up, layering.  You can also water them down and use like watercolours, or use them like oils.

Thanks Sassy. I got quite disheartened yesterday because to me it's clumsy and just a mess, I am pleased you can see something else though.

I know exactly what you mean about the adding of lighter colours on a darker background....it doesn't work does it.
My aim was to do a lovely sea scene with white sailing boats bobbing around (I saw a similar painting on holiday and loved it) I now realise that once the blue of the ocean is on paper...I cant paint my sailing boast.

We live and learn.

eddie wrote:Syl I think your picture is really good! Sassy your seascape thingy is pretty ok too? Don't know why you guys are so hard on yourselves!

I can draw round my hand. I'm not bad at that

Ps I have been colouring in with my daughter alot recently, and yesterday I happened to have my glasses on and opened up a colouring in book.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I missed bits out!!! How terrible am I?

eddie wrote:Syl I think your picture is really good! Sassy your seascape thingy is pretty ok too? Don't know why you guys are so hard on yourselves!

I can draw round my hand. I'm not bad at that

Ps I have been colouring in with my daughter alot recently, and yesterday I happened to have my glasses on and opened up a colouring in book.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I missed bits out!!! How terrible am I?

sassy wrote:Honestly Syl, if you had seen the ones I did when I started, they were much worse than yours, it's just practice.  If I have a break and go back to it, the first one always gets binned.   You have an added advantage, you can draw, my drawing is rubbish, I only do very simple sketches before I start putting paint on.

Syl wrote:

aspca4ever wrote:Stippling and chalk was what I enjoyed the best; and frankly Syl...aren't we all far to critical of our own art work.  I mean I've got sketches from way back in high school that I didn't turn in for grading but now I'm pretty dang amaze that my sketches weren't as horrible as I'd thought. 

If you have the space & or storage - save those; you are aware of those first basic drawings that the masters kept --- look at what they've brought for $$$$.  LOL

I would love to see some of your early sketches....can you put them up?  I cant put my pics on posts but I can manage to get them as avi's.
It must be lovely to look back at your old sketches, I bet they conjure up some good memories to.

eddie wrote:Syl the glasses/housework tip works a treat on looking the mirror too

aspca4ever wrote:

Syl wrote:

I would love to see some of your early sketches....can you put them up?  I cant put my pics on posts but I can manage to get them as avi's.
It must be lovely to look back at your old sketches, I bet they conjure up some good memories to.

That tub of art work {both mine and my sons} was relocated to the garage...as with lots of my book collection, I'll need a strong helper dude to get them back down---moms stuff needed all that area!  

But your ability to do facial features is eons beyond my ability---I just never could get that nose/mouth/eye ratio correct...EVER.  

Syl wrote:

eddie wrote:Syl the glasses/housework tip works a treat on looking the mirror too

Lol....another tip, don't buy one of those 8xmagnified make up mirrors.....they are bad for the ego.