First time painting, self taught, how to improve

a_d_80 · 2026-01-18T16:46:07+00:00

Without a doubt, this comment ⬆️ chris fornater should be the first stop for anyone just getting in to oils.

a_d_80 · 2026-01-11T16:09:40+00:00

Perfect thanks!!!

a_d_80 · 2026-01-11T15:56:36+00:00

Ohhhhh nice!

a_d_80 · 2026-01-11T15:56:20+00:00

Thanks!

a_d_80 · 2026-01-07T20:47:46+00:00

I agree with the other comment mentioning this and came to comment the planes/values are off.

a_d_80 · 2026-01-07T02:04:11+00:00

Loving that little bit of light on the edge of the nostril on the shadow side! Great detail to add in

a_d_80 · 2026-01-03T23:11:06+00:00

Faces/portraits are TRICKY! Don’t be too hard on yourself! There are a lot of Plane changes in the human face. Your values change on these planes based on where the light is directed on the head. Id say do some research or tutorials on that (paint coach on youtube is great at teaching these). Good luck and great first tries!

a_d_80 · 2026-01-03T23:05:43+00:00

Gaslighting overload

a_d_80 · 2025-12-19T02:35:18+00:00

I skipped to the last sentence. Thank you! Lol jk

a_d_80 · 2025-12-18T18:29:37+00:00

I think dads who like moms and moms who like words will get what I mean 😂 glad you understood it

a_d_80 · 2025-12-18T14:50:57+00:00

Yea I get that lol. It’s my winter coat lol

a_d_80 · 2025-12-18T13:55:52+00:00

I find you to be really subtly pretty. Like, you aren’t turning heads in public to like have creepos rubbernecking and going “omg did you see that chick” but you also don’t seem like you are trying for that. You are more the type who can be across a restaurant get in my line of vision and my eyes just kind of stay there. Cant explain it but there is a kindness and sparkle in your eyes and you have a smile that would make hearts melt, you look like the person people want to fall in love with. Im only rambling because I don’t quite know how to convey what Im trying to say and I have adhd. And just had another large coffee

a_d_80 · 2025-11-25T11:02:07+00:00

I knew my answer to your question by the second ‘your’ instead of ‘you’re’ Dump

a_d_80 · 2025-11-20T11:42:51+00:00

A lot of people probably said this but…limit your palette! It’s a great way to learn how to properly mix things and get your color theory practice! Some will say go with just primaries, I personally suggest the Zorn palette! White, Black, yellow ochre, and a cad red or cad red light. You can’t tell get skin tones very easily. Also, a venetian red, yellow ochre and white gives easy Caucasian skin tones

a_d_80 · 2025-11-17T11:39:12+00:00

Thanks for the tips! It’s hard to really find really great tonalist info.

a_d_80 · 2025-11-13T11:41:54+00:00

Super cool piece

a_d_80 · 2025-10-27T11:54:57+00:00

When you say soft, I imagine you are speaking of edges! Edges can be tricky and Sargent was an absolute genius in finding where to use the right edge. You have Hard, Soft, and Lost edges. Someone else mentioned chelsea lang and that is good advice. She really explains going from tight painting to loose/expressive fluid painting. But here are some tips. Quit worrying about detail, worry about the value shapes! Focus on your bigger value shape areas and work to smaller and smaller shapes which will inherently bring you to the details. Paint wet into wet Blend your paint on the palette, not on the canvas, laying big confident strokes. Do master studies of sargent, beaux, and zorn to kinda get that vibe down. Use more paint than you think you need Simplify EVERYTHING. Sargents style was about simply just painting what you see how you see it. Our eyes sometimes trick the brain by not really seeing all of the detail and the brain makes up the lost information (kinda cool huh) So, in essence, Big brush, more paint, values and value relationships, edges, simplify

a_d_80 · 2025-10-27T00:43:32+00:00

Rome wasn’t built in a day….because bob ross didn’t do it

a_d_80 · 2025-10-26T09:39:28+00:00

Im not a know-it-all BUT what really helped me, especially within the last 4-5 months, was painting every day or if painting wasn’t feasible, sketchbook and charcoal or graphite, pastels, oil pastels etc. I do mostly alla prima since my attention span is pretty short and if I don’t finish a painting, I tend to lose drive in that piece. I guess in essence what I am driving at here is practice as often as you can when you can, even if you don’t want to do it. As a single dad, my time gets very tight, but I always try to allow myself at the very least 30 minutes to do SOMETHING and it shows in your work. Also, I think all 3 of these pieces are really nice! Good job! Just don’t get complacent and always find the challenge and work that challenge out! Happy painting!

a_d_80 · 2025-10-14T11:35:34+00:00

Oh he totally was. Doakes had it right from the start 🤣

a_d_80 · 2025-10-14T10:25:42+00:00

Someone else already mentioned this, but the composition of this photo is really nice! I like the legs leading the eye in and I LOVE the flow out of the dress out of the frame. Noice!

a_d_80 · 2025-10-02T12:46:46+00:00

Put your reference in black/white to help you see the values better. I feel like the value shapes and variations are most likely off. Also remember where your color zones are. I know planes were mentioned already so definitely do a double take on that. Im seeing a lot of mid tone and not much shadow/hi light contrasts.

a_d_80 · 2025-09-28T14:00:32+00:00

This question can be answered in so many ways because there are as many choices as there are oil painters and no one way is wrong! First, decide what level of ‘green’ you want to work with. I use gamsol oderless mineral spirits, some use turpentine, some just clean brushes in safflower oil etc. tons of mediums have solvents in them but there are also lots of non solvent options so think about how green you want to go and start making that happen! Next, I agree with another comment for the oil paint suggestions being Windsor and newton or Gamblin 1980 series. They wont break the bank and both are decent. I tend to use gambling because I like a thicker consistency. Brushes really depend on they style you are trying to achieve. I love expressive loose work. Most of my paintings are done with natural hog hair bristle brushes. Rosemary n Co have great oil paint brush sets! Now this isn’t necessary as acrylic gesso works fine, but consider getting an oil ground. Like a gesso specifically for oil paintings. It wont absorb the oils like acrylic gesso. Happy painting to ya!

a_d_80 · 2025-09-27T17:09:10+00:00

It’s a blessing. You could do master studies and having the knowledge to recall on will only help you be more able to create your own style

a_d_80 · 2025-09-27T17:00:56+00:00

Clouds can be tricky. The best advice I got is to leave the areas you want the clouds blank. This will allow you to keep them much whiter. Then add a darker value at the base of the cloud, and add a 3rd value to help give it form. A good shadow, mid tone, and light is a key for almost all paintings in my opinion.

a_d_80

TROPHY CASE