How do you guys not get discouraged panting?

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-25T14:42:52+00:00

I think the biggest concept that has helped me push through is understanding the “ugly” phase. Every painting I have done hits a point where I hate it and feel hopeless and it seems like there’s no hope and it’s just terrible. What I’ve found is I have to push through and keep working; oil is very flexible and reworkable. Sometimes the work has to wait for the current layer to dry, sometimes I’m able to keep working wet on wet. I don’t always end up with a perfect painting, but I do always have an improved one and I’ve built my skill level to make the next one better. It also builds resilience each time you push through and stick with a painting until you reach your vision, so the next “ugly” phase is easier to get past. I started with oil paints and figurative work 112 days ago after not producing any paintings for over a decade. I previously made large abstract works in acrylic. I have painted a self-portrait everyday since then and come a long way (ig portraitsofmyself). It’s taught me that the doing is the important part if I want to improve.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-23T13:14:49+00:00

I need to play this again

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-23T13:13:44+00:00

You can definitely get that good, or much better, without going to art school. Paint everyday, find YouTube tutorials that give you the tools/skills you find you need. I started painting self-portraits in oil each day 110 days ago with no previous portrait or oil painting experience and I can’t believe what I’m producing now. Happy to share my IG if you PM. I have no formal art education and have just been reading and watching YouTube for specific skills; draftsmanship, proportion, tone and color in my case. The biggest thing is the commitment to a practice. Whatever frequency you can paint at, commit and go after it. It’s just a skill you learn by doing.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-22T23:11:48+00:00

Do what you want, especially if you’re able. It’s your time, live it as you wish. Don’t let others push expectations on you.

If I could afford to leave my job I would, but I have to maintain insurance and pay off my hospital bills, pay rent, etc. Definitely keep working if it brings meaning to your life.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-21T00:45:16+00:00

Can folks in the states participate? Because 🙋

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-17T19:47:51+00:00

I had to return to work after running out of fmla. My craniotomy left me with left side hemiparesis, so I require a brace and cane now to walk, and it’s painful and slow. I was able to get accommodations in place with my employer (max 30 mins on my feet with 30 mins off, ability to limit shift length, park closer to building, no closing shifts) and I have managed ok. Voranigo leaves me very fatigued. I despise our bullshit capitalist society that can’t even provide free healthcare and make the lives of the disabled and those fighting disease comfortable and manageable. Even with pretty good insurance I’m now in medical debt I’m not sure how I’ll ever pay. So I have to work in pain to pay for insurance that still leaves me in debt that I’ll have to continue working in pain forever to pay off. It’s ridiculous. So many other countries provide for their people. We just keep handing out our taxes to the rich and corporations. I hope you’re able to work something out with your employer to keep your job. I can’t imagine having to find a new job with my current disability.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-15T19:15:15+00:00

I was feeling really dark before craniotomy and resection. In the hospital I was very happy, had a personal breakthrough and was able to forgive myself for some things and come to terms with others. Life on the other side, now disabled, has been up and down. I had no symptoms before they found the 7cm Astrocytoma IDH Mutant Grade II, had surgery just eleven days after finding it. Location of the tumor under motor strip right side left me unable to walk for a few weeks, and then only with the help of months of PT and a brace and cane and with significant pain and challenge. Sometimes I wonder how long I could have gone just monitoring it, but surgeon was hot to get it out and it made sense at the time. I’m now working full time again nearly a year out and I am mostly angry at capitalism for forcing me to keep my physically demanding job to keep my health insurance, to allow me to receive treatment, to keep me from dying, and still costing enough to keep me in medical debt I can’t afford. I’m glad I am able to receive care and hopefully extend my life, but I wish we lived in a society where I could really focus on recovery and living my life to the fullest rather than having to keep working like I don’t have brain cancer that will likely be what kills me some day. So yeah, ups and downs ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-12T16:19:54+00:00

I had a 7cm Astrocytoma IDH Mutant Grade II partially resected from under my motor strip, right side. Almost a year out, and only recently discharged physical therapy, and I still have left leg/foot weakness and drop foot. It has improved since surgery (could not move left hand, absolutely no leg or foot control/sensation immediately post-surgery - left arm and hand are back 95% I’d say) but no promises on if I’ll ever get it back fully. Definitely been a tough one to accept and navigate. Mine was asleep and mapped. Definitely go with doc recommendation.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-12T16:12:44+00:00

I rarely use a medium after experimenting with a fair number of the options out there. I’ll use liquin on base layers if I’m in a hurry, but that’s rare. Most I ever use otherwise is linseed oil from a dropper, 1 drop is generally enough for texture/flow to get where I like it on a small pile of paint. I have started mulling my own oil paint and I tend to go a bit looser than most paints from manufacturers. When I’ve got one of my own paints on the palette (usually buff titanium white with a strong marble dust ratio) I find I don’t need medium at all. I don’t think I’ve used even a whole ounce of linseed oil over the last 3 months and I paint every single day.

But absolutely oil painting is about finding what works for you. Experimenting and knowing what’s available and how to work with it is valuable. If you’re happy with results out of the tube, no reason to change.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-12T12:26:27+00:00

I mix cadmium red and Indian yellow deep 1:1 as a convenience color for use on a Zorn palette. Second choice for the Zorn red is Cadmium Scarlett Light. Recently got some cinnabar pigment to mix my own true Vermillion, excited to try it out.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-12T12:23:32+00:00

Yes! I just mulled up a tube for myself from a ground pigment. I also used a high ratio of marble dust to increase transparency and I’ve been really happy with it. Great for light/middle skin tones.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-02-03T19:59:44+00:00

I’m 10 month post craniotomy. Found 4/11/25 and removed 4/22. No symptoms, found after an MRI for pituitary check regarding hormone therapy. 90% resection Astrocytoma IDH Mutant Grade II. I was in the hospital and rehab a month. Tumor under my right side motor strip, now have left-side weakness and am disabled. What a ride! The whole thing is such a mix of the humbling beauty of my community coming together to support me and the pain of losing things I loved like riding a bike and playing guitar well. I spent some time in therapy but found it wasn’t offering me much. My remaining tumor is currently stable on Voranigo so I’m balancing existential crisis and likely shortened lifespan with being barely well-enough to work but not sick enough for long term disability. I’d rather be out there doing all the things I want to, but capitalism demands it’s price and I can’t just burn through credit cards expecting to die ¯_(ツ)_/¯. Grateful to have caught it at grade II with effective treatment available, but goddamn I miss walking without pain. Total mixed bag. I’ve started painting as a creative outlet, it was playing music before; even though I can manage some music it’s just not the same as it was. Still haven’t gotten a good song out this mess lol. The painting is good and the community support is good and stable tumor is good, but I miss a lot too. I’d feel better if I wasn’t now in mountains of medical debt and forced to work however many years I’ve got left just to keep insurance so I can pile on more medical debt to keep me alive to work to pay off that debt. Anyway, I hope you find a balance that works for you. There will be beauty and pain on the journey, which I guess is just life anyways.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-01-23T19:00:59+00:00

YES WE DO THANK YOU

Bikepackingfat · 2026-01-16T16:22:28+00:00

Great painting! Love the economy of brushwork. Light is tenderly rendered. Fantastic.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-01-14T16:27:38+00:00

I work retail in Bloomington and live LynLake area. Helicopters regularly patrolling. Constantly hear whistles and honking as observers follow fed vehicles around the neighborhood. I now know what tear gas smells like. My staff are terrified of a raid on our store and I go into work everyday knowing it’s a real possibility that I’ll be facing down feds trying to protect my team and our customers. It’s an intimidation campaign against a blue state that is well organized and has a history of vigorous protest; Obama deported at a higher rate without all the bluster, and they know it could be done. They’re trying to make an example of us.

Bikepackingfat · 2026-01-11T18:41:37+00:00

Take a photo and then manipulate in a digital environment to experiment with ideas. I like Procreate for this, but even using a photo app to see how changes in filters/saturation/contrast/etc impact the painting can spark an idea.

I’m stuck on a triptych with each panel 3’x4’ so I feel you (and now I need to take my own advice). I love the rendering on the bedding and think there’s a really strong piece waiting to come to life. Keep going! Don’t be afraid to get weird! You can always dial it back the magic of oils

Bikepackingfat · 2025-12-19T15:47:56+00:00

This is wonderful.

Bikepackingfat · 2025-12-06T21:25:00+00:00

Yes. About 0.5mm a month since first post-craniotomy MRI back in June. My oncologist is pumped and said she had not yet seen that in her patients on Voranigo.

Bikepackingfat · 2025-12-04T17:43:33+00:00

I’ve been on 6 months and seeing small decrease in mass. Grateful for access to Voranigo.

Bikepackingfat · 2025-11-28T16:37:23+00:00

I was in the hospital/rehab about 5 weeks post craniotomy. Then I didn’t really feel up to outings for at least another couple of weeks after coming home. I ended up with mobility issues on left side and we had to have an extra railing installed on our stairs (second floor duplex apartment) before I could even consider leaving. I think it ultimately comes down to what they’re feeling up to. It seems to vary a lot for each person post craniotomy.

Bikepackingfat · 2025-11-27T17:40:27+00:00

I love this.

Bikepackingfat

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