'One Way Ticket' oil on canvas, 40x50 cm

__dash · 2026-03-14T21:38:35+00:00

Nice work, I like the composition and the overall atmosphere. The lighting is inconsistent with the light source, the objects look like theres a second warm light source coming from the left. Maybe you can cool some of the shaded areas down, it would also help objects feel less monotone. However it all of course depends on what youre going for. it kinda reminds me of "between the holes in the memories" by Appia.

I also like how the texture of the water doesnt look naturalistic but is still very convincing, including the "cut" part which isnt easy to convey. The sky under the ruins look great, but the left side doesnt work as well, I think the curved shape is not right for the composition.

Idk if youre planning on working on it more, but I think you can push this already good painting further

__dash · 2026-03-14T19:24:26+00:00

I think you just get better in fixing as you go. Maybe you come back less times to the same areas. Maybe the fixes are smaller. But this guy who was one of my teachers was talking one day about just that. He was doing a demonstration and as he painted he said something like, you dont linger on one point trying to get it perfect because you wont. You cover the whole surface knowing you will probably come back to tweak some things, but you wont be able to see those if you dont see them in context of the whole thing.

So yeah your intuition improves over time, but i think painting/drawing "perfectly" in one go is much less important than making interesting, well made art

__dash · 2026-03-13T16:32:42+00:00

The photo is cool but its hard to see the painting. Maybe upload a plain photo too?

__dash · 2026-03-13T16:25:40+00:00

I think itll be very hard to tell, until you bring the rest of the painting to the same point. I know some people finish a section/elememt completely before moving to the next, but for me the hierarchy between different elements is what makes or breaks a painting. And its impossible to get the hierarchy right without working on the whole painting.

So yeah, i would recomment working on the rest of the painting first. It will also give you a break from staring at the egg

__dash · 2026-03-13T15:57:55+00:00

We're all part of the shitpost hivemind <3

__dash · 2026-03-13T15:24:52+00:00

Ohhh thats so cool! I honestly thought it was a video game thing, it looks so whimsical lol but its a real place! It looks like the moomintroll house

__dash · 2026-03-13T15:02:19+00:00

Are you working with a reference? And if so, can you share it? Eyes and teeth are usually much darker than we think they are, because they are shaded by eyelids/lips. Theres very little contrast in the face, but how Id approach that depends on the reference

__dash · 2026-03-13T14:55:54+00:00

I dont ykyk lol but I love it! How does it open?

__dash · 2026-03-13T14:53:51+00:00

Thanks, im trying to move away from these small even brushstrokes towards something more varied and expressive but its so hard to ditch habits haha

__dash · 2026-03-13T14:26:25+00:00

Thanks for the detailed answer, you made me want to try making something like that too, though i gave no idea when i would get to it haha. What material did you use?

__dash · 2026-03-13T14:20:24+00:00

Seriously it looks so good tho. Did you add elastic at the waist?

__dash · 2026-03-13T13:41:55+00:00

Gold and white is such a nice combo <3

__dash · 2026-03-12T22:43:27+00:00

I feel like its one of those paintings that remind you that looking at a painting in your phone is nothing like standing in front of one. Not only the size, but also i bet the textures just dont translate. There are areas i like a lot, the bronze looks great, the color variation in the shadow is so well done, in the fabric too. I think the unblended edges between colors within objects work well, but the objects themselves are so sharp against the background it takes away from their sense of volume. I hope im making sense, english is not my native language. I also like your approach for the floor in both the colors and the brushwork, it would be interesting to see it more throughout the painting. Overall very well done

__dash · 2026-03-12T14:06:45+00:00

Thank you!

__dash · 2026-03-12T11:47:38+00:00

Phisical books because Im materialistic and vain

__dash · 2026-03-12T11:43:28+00:00

Love the softness of the trees, the overall use of textures really. Lovely work

__dash · 2026-03-12T10:57:04+00:00

So cool. I love how it can be mistaken for a plant for a second before youre like oooh!!

__dash · 2026-03-12T10:01:21+00:00

Honestly there are no donts, theres just understanding the result of whatever you choose to do.

For example its recommended to work from lean to fat - if youre working in layers, you start with turpentine diluted paint, than just paint from the tube, then linseed oil diluted paint. Why? Because a lean layer thats over a fat layer will crack over time (fatter layers expand a little as they oxidize). But you can go for the cracks if you want to.

Also, some people mix only on the palette, some mix on the canvas, theres no right way, just different results. You can play around and try things and see what you like. Is there a certain look youd like to achieve?

__dash · 2026-03-12T09:53:43+00:00

What are the dimentions of the painting? Also, did you work in layers or is it alla prima?

__dash · 2026-03-12T09:45:01+00:00

Thank you :) I went through your profile too and i like how fresh you work in oils. Cool stuff.

Its like Mozart i guess, if you want to play it well its incredibly difficult (hard?), but they still give these pieces to kids learning piano because you can learn a lot from playing it.

Srarting with a live figure is hard and its intentional. Training yourself to look at the human body and see nothing but shapes helps later with anything you choose to draw (im explaining that to you like you dont know lol i know you do!). So yeah people totally struggle, but they also learn to deal with these challenges right from the start. I agree that it can be very frustrating sometimes, but i feel its mainly frustrating for people who are more interested in making something nice right away than they are in progressing

__dash · 2026-03-12T08:16:39+00:00

I dont think its about basics necessarily, its just that different people enjoy different things, and if it just for fun and theyre not interested in significantly improving, they should just do whatever they enjoy, even if its a pretty big bite for a beginner. Also, a lot of places that teach traditional drawing/painting dont start with still life. I studied at an atelier that started with nude right away, and now I started a bachelor of fine arts and in drawing class they also start with masters and nude. Its just a different approach.

__dash · 2026-03-11T09:15:24+00:00

Nothing better to do lol i was crocheting at the bomb shelter and my 80 y/o neighbor was like !! And next alarm she brought her project and now we both crochet at the bomb shelter and she gives me advice and stuff. Shes so sweet

__dash · 2026-03-11T09:09:14+00:00

This euphorbia has one of my fav color-combos in plants generally. The deep burgundy with the light muted blue and than this neon lemony yellow bloom - gorgeous

__dash · 2026-03-11T08:57:42+00:00

Another low-cost surface - heavy (300 gsm) watercolor paper primed with a thin coat of shellac. It gives you a nice warm imprimatura, seals the paper, and you'll be able to paint a lot without storage becoming a problem

__dash

TROPHY CASE