I’m inspired to paint!

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That wasn't the picture I was going to post . These are

I love them, Whiff. Congratulations on your artwork.

Beautiful pictures Whiff! I love the purple one.

Thank you both but it didn't take a lot of skill . You never know if the print will work until you see what's on the paper. But it was fun

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These are some from our exhibition

This is how one finished her work

Whiff

That wasn't the picture I was going to post . These are

Love both of those, ‘Whiff’!
I do particularly admire anyone’s artistic ability - I have always been singularly hopeless in that respect.

Those painting look just a little Premier Inn to me .

Witzend I have no artistic ability. As you never know what would turned out until you move the paper . I just played and it was fun . Your knitting that's artistic.

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I go to classes at Colourwheel and thoroughly enjoy them. I was a complete beginner when I started three years ago, although I have no creative talent I get to try all sorts of different mediums and subjects. I'm posting a couple of animal pics I've done which were great fun, one in gouache and one in black biro, just to give you an idea of what's on offer. I don't pretend to have any natural talent but the teaching has been very good! I've put a link to the classes which are nationwide should anyone be interested. I am not in any way associated with Colourwheel, just a happy client and I've made lots of new friends too.

colourwheelartclass.co.uk/art-classes-near-me/ sorry missed off link!

foxie you are very talented and love the fact the cow and elephant have personalities.. Love to see more of your art.

Have always loved to draw. Used to fill up endless cheap sketch books as a youngster. Then my father bought me 72 Derwent coloured pencils which I used for years just replacing individual pencils. When I had a work related break down in my early fifties I recovered mainly by turning to art. I painted anything that meant anything to me. So grandchildren from babies until adults. Holiday scenes. Flowers bought for me or in the garden. The family dogs. Murals for the walls of the grandchildren’s bedrooms. My daughter would buy curtains and bedcovers in say an underwater theme - so there was a mermaid reading a story to some little fish - a wreck with buried treasure along with an octopus and my grandson swimming wearing goggles.He also wanted a shark but “not near me” so painted on the opposite wall etc etc. In another bedroom for the baby there were teddy bears getting up to various things. Later my daughter bought a bedcover with a boy on a skateboard so I went to an art shop (Cass Art close the Portrait Gallery) and bought the largest canvas they had and managed it on a mainline train until I arrived at local station and walked it home as too big for a bus. My dear father was dying at the time and when I wasn’t at the hospital I was painting. That was why it wasn’t a mural as I needed to do it at home. That painting helped me to cope during that period.
Over the years my walls have become covered and my family have also got them. When the boys grew up I painted their girl friends and partners. What joy! All that lovely long hair! So everyone in the family have been painted. In fact the new members were told if you had your portrait painted “then you knew you were one of the family”.I have painted lots for family and friends but have never thought about selling anything. My grandchildren were able to use my equipment on a regular basis and they love art. I am a happy amateur and have enjoyed and been so grateful for what art has given me.

Whiff

foxie you are very talented and love the fact the cow and elephant have personalities.. Love to see more of your art.

The classes have given me a lot of pleasure and I hope others give it a go. It's so relaxing. I'm just someone who copies, absolutely no creative talent I'm afraid but it's still satisfying .

Lovetopaint I wish I'd started painting years ago but it's been the classes that gave me confidence to have a go as I didn't do any art when I was at secondary school so didn't understand any of the basics. I've had a go at portrait painting but it's really difficult, easier in charcoal. What medium do you use?

Andy Warhol:

"Don't think about making art - just get it done. Let everyone else decide whether it's good or bad, whether they love or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art."

Since my OH died I have taken up painting - there is nothing I have produced that I would try and sell - that is not the purpose - but I have learned a lot, and it has engaged my mind and heart and has helped me through. The process is as important as the product.

foxie I went to watercolour classes and then portrait classes as I have always enjoyed drawing people. I have painted portraits in watercolour.acrylic and oil. Oil takes ages to dry so I have found if you paint in acrylic it allows you to alter really easily and then I often use oil over this. You can put oil over acrylic but never acrylic over oil. The watercolour paintings have been lightly done with pencil which allows alterations to be made and then watercolour is added using plenty of water. You can get some lovely effects this way. I enjoy portrait paintings because they are difficult so you get really absorbed. It usually takes awhile as the smallest change can make a big difference. If I’m lucky I find myself saying “hello Sam”or hello ……. At classes of course I painted only from the model but painting children and family I have taken countless photos which are not posed but showing them in some activity - like a moment in time. I tried painting one grandson from life but as he kept running over to see how I was getting on it became quite difficult. Charcoal is great but needs to be protected or framed. Good luck foxie. Keep at it and never be put off by anyone as the most likely critics are those who don’t draw or paint. Enjoy it and perhaps think of creating memories. On the holidays we had I used to do small watercolour paintings. It was when I got home that I realised they evoked so much more that the countless photos.

Thanks, Lovetopaint I think you've inspired me to try a watercolour or acrylic as I've bought my own materials. Just need a suitable photo!

Good luck foxie. Just a word about watercolours. Depending on what you can afford it’s best to spend your money on good quality paints and buy the basic colours. You need two reds, two blues and two yellows. For eg crimson alizarian (veers towards blue so could make a mauve with ultramarine blue)and cadmium red or similar which veers towards yellow so could make orange. Two blues such as ultramarine blue ( veers towards mauve) and a cobalt blue for sunny skies etc or a favourite of mine Then extras like burnt umber which mixed with ultramarine blue gives you a black and I like sage green which can be mixed with yellow and blues to give different greens. Then watercolour brushes are more expensive but if looked after will last for a long time whereas acrylic and oil brushes are cheaper but need replacing. Ideally the brush should come to a point when put in water and then shaken! Yes it is a big outlay but Christmas is coming up 🤣. I expect you have a putty rubber as you use charcoal but useful, also a bit of blotting paper which can add interesting effects when you pull some colour out. Works well with flowers. It’s all about trial and error. Use enough water as you want it to look transparent for best effect. It goes on and on……..Good luck and enjoy and prepare for disappointments which are necessary for improvement. After mastering watercolour acrylics are a cinch and much easier to go onto but the other way around might be more difficult.

I absolutely cannot paint or create such artworks but I'm so glad that others do. I love visiting galleries and we have paintings on every wall. I love them all.
Keep creating Grans!

Ps just seen you’ve already bought your materials so sorry.

That’s great Aveline.

foxie you are talented it doesn't matter if you copy a picture. Yours will be unique as it's your spin on what you see. Many famous artists take photos and copy those for there paintings . Plus a lot of what so called artists produce to my mind isn't aren't. In York art museum there was a painting 🤔that was a circle on a what I assumed was supposed to be on a string and beside a triangle 🤷and that was supposedly to be art .

Luckygirl3 bet you painting it gives you peace from your grief . I know my cross stitch does. Think it because we get so absorbed in what we are doing . Any pics you would share here please. I love seeing people who can paint works .

Lovetopaint I tried watercolour painting years ago when my husband was alive . But I was hopeless . Thats why I find it so hilarious I was in an art exhibition. Any chance of you posting some of your paintings .
Plenty of good advice about paints etc.

A friend of mine paints on silk her work is beautiful. She mainly does flowers they are so life like. She is a member of an art group and they help eachother with tips . Unlike me she has her work professionally frame, me do my own it's cheaper. 😁

I am mid 70 s and only just started watercolour painting.
I only copy photos but do look at landscapes differently now, imagining how I would draw or paint them.
I don’t even remember doing art at school so am a complete beginner, but it’s really enjoyable.

silverlining48 I'm the same, it has definitely changed the way I look at things.