Does anyone paint?

I have painted, on and off, since my teens. I really enjoy it and family and friends are very complimentary of my efforts, but if I'm honest there's still a lot of room for improvement! I usually use watercolours but a few years ago ventured into acrylics in a bolder more structured style. I nearly always carry a sketch pad around with me and take random photos for later recerence. I still don't feel very confident painting 'in the field' with people peering over my shoulder. It's a wonderfully relaxing hobby and if I don't like the result I can just paint over it!

I am doing an art course at present on a Wednesday morning. Learning a lot, but will not be posting my efforts any time soon, if you don't mind.

My old school art teacher was very disparaging and the hurt stays there.

I am keen to draw and to make my work look 3D. I am enjoying myself and the teacher is so positive. We have used pencils, acrylics and charcoal. Self portraits tomorrow, wish me inspiration.

I hasten to add that the sailing boat is Seurat's not mine! What you could do is take a section and make it your own!

Here's another:

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201902/medium-835274-treesinthepark.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201902/medium-721475-dottyarabs.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201902/medium-905895-extract-from-le-grande-jatte.jpg

Here are some of my own: The last one is a section of Seurat's A-sunday-on-la-grande-jatte-1884

I agree. You do not need to be able to draw. Why not try pointillism, ie dotty pictures like the ones Seurat used to do.

Wow, so talented. Keep up the good work it's beautiful.
I love artwork and paintings.

So sweet. I like the way you have caught expression in the children's faces.

Where are people's paintings displayed? I see lots of references to them but no paintings.

If you did two years at Art College you must have absorbed something. Try again! Would love to see what you produce. Don't worry if it is not an impressionist painting. Lowry did some very good paintings of factories! There are some very good paintings by Russians of machinery. Surely there is something you can tackle? Maybe ordinary things such as a cup of tea, a flower, fruit, or the countryside?

LOVED your painting. You are very talented.

My should read do

JuneS, you certainly my have talent and should paint more. Over time you'll develop different styles and learn new techniques. Do continue! I admire those who work at their hobbies. I used to enjoy painting and studied Art too, but I haven't picked up a brush since my early 20s.

Love the paintings. I have been painting for years now. I started in Acrylics but decided to paint in watercolour which is far more challenging.
I make all of my Christmas cards by printing one of my paintings.
The one below is this years card. I painted the picture two years ago.

I enjoy having a go with watercolours but not to your standard JuneS really good. It is a relaxing pastime unless someone is wanting to look.

That's a beautiful painting, JuneS I used to paint, did two years at Art School ages ago and loved it. I keep telling myself to have another go as it's so relaxing. What put me off was my complete lack of artistic talent!

Lovely paintings. The portrait is very well done. I paint and draw myself but not to a very high standard. I just find it so relaxing and you achieve something at the end of it even if it's not that good.

I sat in on a demonstration at one of our local art shows recently by an artist who said what I have been trying to tell people for ages. You don't need to be able to draw to be able to paint - especially if you are using oils or acrylics. Yes you may need a few rough draughting lines, but nothing intricate. Oil and acrylic cover up a multitude of sins. Watercolour is rather more complicated and needs a bit more ‘forward planning’. One of the hardest lessons I learned was that watercolour dries around two shades lighter so you have to be brave with your depth of colour. But at the end of the day, the way to get started is to jump right in and explore the joy of putting paint on paper (or whatever base you use). Do it and see what jumps out at you. Don’t restrict yourself to brushes - painting with a palette knife can be particularly satisfying. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece.

I’d love to be able to paint or draw, but I have zero talent. It’s frustrating. Like Witzend I was very envious of the girls at school who could draw. This envy started when I was still at infant school.

However, I have a granddaughter who shows some ability, so here’s hoping. She’s six and a half. She has been to a great many art exhibitions (her mother, my DIL, works at the Royal Academy, and also organises her own exhibitions), so perhaps if you see enough pictures something rubs off.

I too like painting but no where near your standard
They are really lovely especially the portrait

I used to paint June - but nothing like your standard.
They are lovely.

Casing should read drawing

I do watercolour painting even though I've not done any for a while , since I became a gran that is , with being a very hands on gran I don't find the time for any of my crafty hobbies any longer.
I have sold some of my paintings too.
Your portrait pictures are very nice ,you have made a good job of the eyes . If you get those wrong you may as well just give in that's why it's best to start with the eyes.
The landscape .. You have the perspective right and the casing is good with lots of detail . It just needs finishing with some shadow , make sure you decide which direction the sun is coming from and figure out where the shadow would be in real life .
Well done . You have some talent.

You are very talented June, the portrait especially is lovely.
Most of my family are artistic but I have never really thought about trying it.
So, I have enrolled in a Lifelong Learning class for Watercolours,
I start in the New Year, so we'll see how it goes!

Those are terrific paintings JuneS. You certainly do have a good eye. Also checked out the link with the oil painting it was superb as well. You have ignited my wish to paint well, I seem to keep hashing it up.