I’m inspired to paint!

Another!

Try another

Here are some watercolours

Or instead of a mirror, turn it upside down. Taught to do that at art school.

Deedaa I so agree with you. Especially when you warn against getting too hung up on step by step instruction videos. Really it’s all about really looking at something, noting the shadows and light differences and when drawing using the negative spaces which surround the subject. Getting those right really helps. It’s certainly not about producing a painting that looks like a photograph. The best way in is to actually just paint and see what effects you can achieve. For example I have never felt the need to depend on washes and prefer enough water to allow the paint to remain more or less transparent and drop other colours in or dab some out with tissue etc. It’s all about trial and lots of errors! Also never forget to use a mirror to view your work. The reflection will show you errors in your drawing better than any other observation. So much fun to be had.

Nearly 30 years ago I was going to a U3A painting group. Some of the members were men who had been given expensive sets of paints as retirement presents, but had never done any painting before. I remember one in particular who was producing some lovely little paintings with a rather dreamlike quality. He was very unhappy because he couldn't make them look like the pictures in the instruction books, however hard I tried to convince him that his own vision was far better than just reproducing someone else's. So I would just say that if you are starting out don't get too hung up on the step by step instructions or the How To Do It videos. Your own vision is just as authentic.

Continued - I am sure you could sell your animal paintings. I didn’t see the elephant at first but that is full of character. You have certainly been taught well but it is your enthusiasm and insight into the subject that makes it special.

Thank you for saying such nice things which I appreciate. silverlining.that is a really charming painting. It is alive and full of life as flower paintings should be. As for foxie’s cow painting. I would definitely like that on my wall. It is so beautifully quirky and would cheer me up every time I looked at it. I a

Thank you Whiff.

silverlining WOW it's beautiful and your can see movement in the flowers and leaves. And bright colours.

I watch a lot of online tutorials for watercolour beginners. They make it look so easy…though I know it isn’t,

Some of you are so talented. I won't display my efforts at watercolours. Abysmal is being kind!

Here’s one from me

Those portraits are really lovely. Having only recently started painting I know now how hard it is to do something simple but faces up close are at another level.

I love them and also know how difficult it is to get a likeness. Wow well done.

Lovetopaint037: wow, those are amazing!

Lovetopaint WOW . Your portraits are better than anything in any art gallery. You are very talented. They are better than any photos. You can see the person's character and how much you care about them in your brilliant paintings . Portrait painting I think is the hardest form of painting . They must have taken you days to do. I hope you are very proud of your work as you should be . They are better than anything I have seen on the show 'portrait artist of the year'.

I hope you can exhibit them so more people can see them.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202410/medium-659874-img-1619.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202410/medium-216522-img-3135.jpeg

Found another of grandson painting in the garden.

Whiff will have a wander around tomorrow when it is daylight and take photos of some of the stuff around as all different types. First photo above was oils. The second acrylic. This one another oil.

Can’t get the hang of this as can only post one at a time.

Not sure if I can post photos successfully Whiff. I will have a go.

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

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.

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. 😁

That’s great Aveline.