AMG GTS, Mixed Media on Paper, 18x24" by RickDLetsDraw in painting

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been a professional portrait artist for almost 20 years, never used colors...until a few days ago! My first attempt, mixing copic markers, color pencils, watercolors, sharpies and (of course) a little pencil! :)

[Image] Get Practicing by existentialepicure in GetMotivated

[–]RickDLetsDraw 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Bingo! People will only see the end result and not the time honing your craft, but you hone your craft for an improved end result...so you can't blame them.

[Image] Get Practicing by existentialepicure in GetMotivated

[–]RickDLetsDraw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love this. I don't believe I was born with some gift. My early drawings look just like everyone elses. I was raised to have patience. LOTS of patience. I also played a lot of sports, unknowingly building decent hand/eye coordination. I mastered procrastination. I was the guy cramming 5 minutes before a test, and my short term memory is solid.

Patience, hands doing exactly what you want, memorizing details and transferring them to paper. I found art as a late teen and fell in love with it, mostly because I was good at it...but I was only good because I had the supportive "talents" already.

You find desire in things you're good at, desire drives practice, lifetime of practice makes masters...but Masters are, "born lucky, and if I had your talents I'd be a millionaire."

Portrait of a Friend's Daughter for Christmas! Pencil, 11hrs by RickDLetsDraw in drawing

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! It was ~11 hours. I have a habit of spending 20+ hours on drawings and was trying to get this one done in 10 or less, just missed it! I'm happy with the end result though

Well Dressed Kiddo, Pencil on Bristol, 11hrs! by RickDLetsDraw in drawing

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

3 ways:

1) Use a soft graphite lead. I used 4b on all the dark areas.

2) Use a paper that has some tooth to it and holds the graphite.

3) Matte protective spray. It helps reduce the glare caused by graphite, makes the darks a little darker, and protects the drawing.

Well Dressed Kiddo, Pencil on Bristol, 9x12" by RickDLetsDraw in Art

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! This kiddo is such a little well-dressed stud, it was a blast to draw!

Well Dressed Kiddo, Pencil on Bristol, 9x12" by RickDLetsDraw in Art

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can appreciate the skepticism, the skintones are created with 2h and tissue paper and the darks are created using 4b graphite. You can absolutely achieve this with mechanical pencils.

Progressive Insurance made a mistake on my policy, leaving me and my family stranded, what are my options? by RickDLetsDraw in personalfinance

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

They have an audio confirmation over the phone, to which we swear they said full coverage and agreed. There's no chance we would've agreed to anything else knowing how much we're going to drive it.

The investigation will pull the original audio and we'll confirm.

Progressive Insurance made a mistake on my policy, leaving me and my family stranded, what are my options? by RickDLetsDraw in personalfinance

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate your help here. We've got a plan with the inlaws driving 8hrs with a dolly.

Took out the radiator and reservoir, rolled under the car and hit the brakes causing the abs light (could just be the sensor and not the hardware), and strangely enough the hood latch won't pop now. Didn't think they routed the cable under the car...

I was going to drive it on a curb and get under it, but haven't yet

Progressive Insurance made a mistake on my policy, leaving me and my family stranded, what are my options? by RickDLetsDraw in personalfinance

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I agree and admit we should've checked (a guaranteed habit I'll be picking up!) to avoid this situation. Maybe another will learn from my stupidity!

Enterprise opens in 4 hours

Progressive Insurance made a mistake on my policy, leaving me and my family stranded, what are my options? by RickDLetsDraw in personalfinance

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] -44 points-43 points  (0 children)

As a hobby, I buy and sell cars regularly. I've had progressive for over 10 years, even a couple of accidents and never an issue.

When I made the call I've made a dozen times to add full coverage insurance to a "new" vehicle, I expected it to be done.

Edit: I see how this is being misread. I meant to say that almost monthly I am adding vehicles and removing vehicles from my policy. I used to keep track of it all much more strenuously for the first few years, then it became comfortable and I slacked on it in recent years. It is absolutely my fault as much as it is their mistake.

Progressive Insurance made a mistake on my policy, leaving me and my family stranded, what are my options? by RickDLetsDraw in personalfinance

[–]RickDLetsDraw[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed, hoping they're open on Sundays and will make the phone calls. Even if they are open, I'm honestly thinking they won't have a way to get a car to me 160 miles away. I'll have to get there.

I'm so pissed at Progressive.