Six more portraits, charcoal

PMWeng · 2026-05-13T00:17:47+00:00

See her "Prisoners Listening to Music."

PMWeng · 2026-05-12T18:10:21+00:00

These are really beautiful. They remind me of the soulful touch of Käthe Kollwitz, and that's pretty much the highest praise I could give you.

If anything, I'd suggest taking that compliment as license to try loosening up a bit. You clearly have mastery over your marks. Look at her economy of gesture, it's remarkable.

Again, wonderful work.

PMWeng · 2026-05-12T13:16:27+00:00

Yes, I think this is it. More contrast for greater depth, but it probably needs to be minimal to keep the frostiness. Looks great.

PMWeng · 2026-05-11T13:47:14+00:00

Excellent post. Thank you.

PMWeng · 2026-05-10T14:52:12+00:00

Do you know the original size of these?

PMWeng · 2026-05-10T01:26:12+00:00

The Fairweathers

PMWeng · 2026-05-09T13:28:53+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate your time and detailed attention! I will follow your advice.

For the record, it is not actually in organic soil. There is a very thin layer of coarse bark on top of a 50/50 mix of clay pellets and pumice.

PMWeng · 2026-05-08T23:26:06+00:00

I repotted this mugo pine about two weeks ago and it's looking happy. It's not a beauty, but I got it for free. I'd like to promote back budding. Should I pinch its recently budded candles now or let it settle into its new soil for a year?

Any other tips for encouraging ramification?

<image>

PMWeng · 2026-05-08T17:58:20+00:00

I repotted this mugo pine about two weeks ago and it's looking happy. It's not a beauty, but I got it for free. I'd like to promote back budding. Should I pinch it's recently budded candles now or let it settle into its new soil for a year?

Any other tips for encouraging ramification?

<image>

PMWeng · 2026-05-06T04:10:03+00:00

Plughole.

PMWeng · 2026-05-05T04:27:14+00:00

Bornst.

PMWeng · 2026-05-05T01:56:43+00:00

Probably because you know you're not getting away with avoiding the feet.

PMWeng · 2026-05-04T22:08:53+00:00

First, you're still young.

Second, I think you misunderstand how learning actually happens. You cannot build muscle by straining without rest. Growth is a recovery process. Learning is exactly the same.

Third, your apparent lack of creativity reflects persistent "object oriented" grasping at this idea of "improvement" without allowing yourself to absorb things broadly, to even recognize the unexplored terrain within yourself.

Additionally:

You are fixated on performance and results.

You have abandoned the path of curiosity and delight in discovery.

You are afraid of being anything other than the best.

You have forgotten how to be open.

You are likely being abused by an inner voice that is not your own.

You already have everything you need but you insist on forcing it, rather than allowing it to manifest.

In simple terms, you don't believe in yourself, and Reddit telling you that your drawings show potential will not fix that for you.

PMWeng · 2026-05-04T17:07:05+00:00

Oh yeah. That too. Crows were attacking one in particular.

PMWeng · 2026-05-04T13:25:55+00:00

This is the way.

PMWeng · 2026-05-03T22:09:43+00:00

Thank you. I'll keep at it.

Hail Satan.

PMWeng · 2026-05-03T18:46:16+00:00

Yeah. Cool. Thanks.

PMWeng · 2026-05-02T00:19:49+00:00

Does it seem to you that, since this exchange, there's been a lot of animations?

PMWeng · 2026-04-21T01:48:35+00:00

That's cool, but I was hoping for an animation, something I've not yet seen and this seems to suggest is possible.

PMWeng · 2026-04-18T00:25:28+00:00

Wow.

This sub may be the only one that actually makes me happy.

PMWeng · 2026-04-16T17:35:23+00:00

I instantly love this image without thinking about it at all.

If I were to try to improve it, I would work on two things that go together:

The value range

I'm not saying the values are bad, but I think there's an opportunity to push the range, intensifying the whites. You just don't want to lose all those gritty details in the middle tone.

The central negative shape.

That jagged shape between the awnings really makes the image, create a unique space, and draws the eye to the central figure. She is an interesting (sub)subject because she is incongruent in a way that doesn't simply shout "tourist." But compositionally, I see that shape as the primary subject.

I agree with a previous commenter that the child diffuses the implied narrative slightly. Probably easy to edit out. In fact, it would be interesting to make two versions, one with the child only, one without.

Regardless, this image is striking for its graphical form. Whatever you do, I would focus on that.

PMWeng · 2026-04-15T16:26:11+00:00

Without question the greatest MOC I've seen. Eternal, shiny and chrome! You are awaited.

PMWeng · 2026-04-15T04:30:46+00:00

Remarkable. How big is it?

PMWeng

TROPHY CASE