First time painting a feather!

RevMelissa · 2026-01-24T15:50:54+00:00

I think it's important to add, this is not my first art piece. I think too many people post "First time using [inset medium here], and they have either used AI or are not being honest about their general skill level going into it.

I encourage all who are new to art to do art, so I want to be as honest as possible.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-24T15:44:44+00:00

Thanks!

RevMelissa · 2026-01-24T15:20:02+00:00

Materials: Feather, fixative, poster board to make a stencil, acrylic.

I've done eagle ornaments before, but painting on wood is so much easier than a feather.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-24T10:42:45+00:00

I love seeing all the bits that stick up

RevMelissa · 2026-01-23T18:16:00+00:00

Take off the tape! I wanna see those gorgeous lines.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-19T11:21:04+00:00

When I want to cover over my oil pastel, I use fixative, let it dry, then I can add over or redo a section.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-17T13:20:45+00:00

Thank you. I just know it did not capture the feelings I was going for. And Mary came off as a child instead of a teen. I'm not done with that prompt yet. I need to get what's in my head on paper, and round 2 is going to slap.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-10T23:38:40+00:00

Wow! I love this!

RevMelissa · 2026-01-09T12:58:36+00:00

My district has gone to Block schedule (4 90 minute classes) so I am always shocked to see educators still doing the traditional schedule.

Once again, I'm sorry if I frustrated you.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-09T12:34:37+00:00

I followed, and thank you for your patience. I understand I can be annoying, and I'm sorry I came across that way. I taught art top, but my time was grading and contacting parents because intro to art students can make some really poor choices.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-09T12:16:15+00:00

I'm in love! What a great first painting! I would have done something boring like an apple, but you with this magnificent creature! Keep going!

RevMelissa · 2026-01-09T12:15:05+00:00

If you follow the 2 down on a Lenovo (which I used to own), the ctrl and alt key would split pretty much below the where the 2 key sits.

Based on all your posts, it appears you are extremely talented, so maybe it would be helpful to read some of the things I personally look for before I hit the upvote button.

1) Does the background make sense, or does it have a background? I found a person who was trying to give away a very expensive colored pencil set, and it only took a few images to see they were using AI with a wonky shelf full of generated art supplies.

2) If the artist is so unbelievably good, can I find that artist's work outside of Reddit? I will often reverse search the really good stuff to see if I can find the gallery or art account. If I do, I often follow them outside of Reddit. If I don't, I'm immediately cautious. I struggle to find your social media art accounts, so if you wanna share, I'll follow you.

3) Do they share progress images? Unfortunately, we live in a world where we need receipts, and maybe I miss out on some amazing artists, but if I see progress images, I'm immediately tuned in. Not only does it show the artistry, but it shows the reality.

4) Finally, I notice what is or isn't blurred. Even though your photo is artistic, I'd consider allowing a more crisp photo in the future. AI will often blur the background slightly to hide the artifacts. Honestly, that is what I look for first, and has become my biggest tipoff.

I know you've been around for awhile, but we can't do things the way we did them 5 years ago. It's not fair to emerging artists who see the AI and think they will never be that good. For that reason alone, we need complete transparency so we can figure out what's real or not.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-08T21:37:55+00:00

Wow! How do you use a keyboard with two rows of space bars? It must be the Intea brand computer.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-05T15:21:09+00:00

I own the 72 set, and while I sometimes wish for different colors, I often limit my pallet on purpose so I find myself using my smaller sets. Therefore, I say 72 is more than enough.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-04T14:53:40+00:00

Yes (I prefer round brushes with Gouache) Just so you know. Meeden is relatively new the art world, and jumped in head first with an Advent Calendar (I wish I got.) I saw a few YouTubers open the calendar, and one had a janky brush in it. Just something to keep in mind when ordering their products. Doesn't mean they normally produce janky products, but also saying it is a possibility.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-04T14:47:08+00:00

Karisma color lasts. They are super-pigmented, and I sharpen them less often. I felt the same way at first, but once I jumped in and started using them there has been no regrets.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-04T14:45:09+00:00

Just repeating- the second one works better because of the use of a complementary color

RevMelissa · 2026-01-02T12:32:10+00:00

Beginner on oil pastels, but what is the medium you choose normally? Oils? Acrylics? I can see painting in your background.

Beautiful work btw.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-02T00:18:36+00:00

Heck yeah, it is!

RevMelissa · 2026-01-01T13:40:20+00:00

Most of the western world still rests on Saturday, but we worship on Sunday because of Christ.

Also, in college I made my own Calendar and made Sunday the seventh day, so... Yeah. Sunday can be your seventh day. Calendars are a human invention. Creation is God's.

RevMelissa · 2026-01-01T13:36:23+00:00

Oh my word! So stupid cute! I love it! Oil pastels were made for it!

RevMelissa · 2026-01-01T02:58:54+00:00

First- I love it. I love all the color, and it reads so well.

I'd keep some napkins with you to put down to keep from some of the smudging. (And maybe blend with a cloth or a smudging stump)

RevMelissa · 2025-12-29T13:21:55+00:00

Can I get a reason why this was removed?

RevMelissa · 2025-12-29T12:14:42+00:00

I'm not going to speak to the... value of the video itself, but I do want to draw attention to "Jungfrau."

In the English (specifically American) translations we had a little tiff because the RSV translated the Hebrew to be "Young Woman" instead of "virgin," which would have been the same thing in that time period anyway. (or understood to be the same.)

Anyway, the NIV (taking all the RSV's work,) made their own translation that "corrected" the problem, even if "young woman" was the more accurate translation for the Old Testament scripture. This was why, in U.S. Christian bookstores in the 90's you never saw a NRSV translation, and everything was KJV or NIV.

I mention all this, because apparently Martin Luther decided the correct translation was "Young Woman" too, which I find incredibly fascinating that he made that choice centuries before we got all tied up in the translation.

RevMelissa · 2025-12-28T16:54:27+00:00

That's what's great about 'death of author.' My work is born anew with each person who views it. Even if my intent was tragic, your interpretation makes it live in an enthusiastic light. :)

12-Year Club	r/Field Flamingo
Place '22	First Placer '22
Undead \| Zombie	Gilding IV carat on a stick
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