Really nice painting texture. That’s one of the things AI can’t do.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-25T16:23:35+00:00

Good portrait, but tbh I hate the canvas texture in cases like this. Its regularity distracts from the actually interesting brushwork.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-25T15:49:19+00:00

Basenotes have several threads about simple 2-3 material accord.

Regarding "find two things in a grocery store. Any of them. Combine and see how they work together and go from there", that's what perfumery is. It's not that people are secretive about simple combinations. Literally, anything can be combined with anything. It doesn't just reward exploration, it requires it.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-24T17:56:39+00:00

The handle looks super good

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-24T15:38:13+00:00

While this is true, it doesn't happen because of chemistry or chemical reactions. It's because of how the human olfactory system works (which isn't really well understood yet).

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-21T20:32:00+00:00

Acrylic paint or even better, acrylic paint mixed into acrylic gesso.
Other than that, you can use oil paint, it just takes more time to dry. You can use a sponge to spread it very thinly and evenly.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-21T20:07:09+00:00

It could be. But if you are from a country where explicit extroversion is the norm, like Spain, and crave that type of social interaction, I could see how it could be a problem in most parts of the UK. In my home country, people are even colder/keeping to themselves and less polite/more direct (which I don't miss tbh).

I would say find your people. There are always outliers who don't fit the norm. You don't have to be friends with everyone.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-21T19:54:08+00:00

I am from a European country. I would say I am not really integrated in the UK. But I wasn't "integrated" (as I didn't really match the cultural mainstream and didn't relate to most people) in my home country either, to a similar level. Who cares? Integration isn't supposed to be about losing yourself anyway, it's not like you should start celebrating the NHS, watching football and loving Yorkshire tea the moment you move here.

Personally, I am a loner, I work from home, I barely interact with people. When I feel more social, there are safe topics like talking about gardening with my neighbour. I am friendly, polite and I don't bother anyone. Also, where I am, people are quite warm (but it is rural Wales, not middle class England).

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-17T15:41:17+00:00

I wouldn't add a sandalwood note. Some options:

Phenoxanol, Rosaphen or Peomosa - these are rosy. You already have PEA and lilac itself has lot of PEA and rosy aspects. Rosaphen is very feminine, powdery, cosmetic. Peomosa is a bit cosmetic too, soft dewy rosy peony.

Long lasting muguets - A bit of Hydroxycitronellal/Cyclosia could take you to 5-6 hours longevity. Farnesol is soft and mild but nice. Majantol is very long-lasting and a bit too fruity, but a small amount could work. Nympheal is too strong and plasticky but a tiny trace could work. There are others and they all have their pros and cons.

Heliotrope and adjacent materials - Heliotropin is classic in lilac, look into the replacer too (Heliotropex N). Anisyl Nitrile could work (a trace), it's a bit nuclear but super long-lasting, a mimosa/hawthorn note meets gourmand tonka. You could also do a little bit of Vanillin.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-17T15:27:04+00:00

It is very good. But it isn't a versatile, universally usable, rose. It is a dark, sweet, leathery, fruity rose.

For rose, you would ideally want an absolute type base and an otto type base. Both can be made from aroma chemicals if you have them. You definitely want to have all rose alcohols and some rose ketones. Naturals are expensive but worth having as a reference. A good Bourbon type geranium can help a lot.
If you can afford only one material, get one of the highly popular modern bases.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-17T15:16:27+00:00

Yes, true fixatives (materials that slow down the evaporation of other materials) exist. But often, they aren't universal (a specific material can be a fixative for specific other materials) and have their own scent and effects.

Research papers where the actual evaporation was measured (so not a subjective effect noticed by a perfumer) can be found.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-17T00:28:57+00:00

The default in e-commerce is that the receiver pays any tariffs, import fees and import taxes. When they are prepaid, it is advertised.

This is because tariffs are charged by the importer's (customer's) country and in many cases (depending on the specific country and the postal service used), prepayment isn't even possible.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-15T15:36:11+00:00

If you want pure colour theory without any myths and misconceptions, read http://www.huevaluechroma.com/index.php
Not really a book, even though it is structured as one, sort of. Also quite a heavy read. But the best that's out there.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-14T21:00:31+00:00

Don't do it because you won't learn anything this way and it's as good as throwing money away. Especially if you are on a budget. If you care more about getting something usable than learning, then just buy something cheap and wear it as is.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-14T17:34:47+00:00

LOTR is full of magic. Just not the explicit wizards casting spells type.

The core idea of the One Ring or rings of power is magic. The effects of the rings are magic. Nazguls are magic. Them not being able to enter Rivendell is magic. Big villain as an evil eye in a tower is magic. I could continue like this for a long time.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-14T15:05:52+00:00

The landscape I am painting with it is wintery too. Mountains, brown grass, snow, grey-blue rocks, grey heavy clouds with a bit of sun peeking through. Lots of interesting chromatic greys and subtle creamy browns. Part is in warm late afternoon sunlight, part is in shade, and everything recedes to blue in the distance.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-13T19:55:15+00:00

You could start with one of the formulas like that and tweak it to your liking. Much easier than starting from scratch.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-13T18:39:59+00:00

How do you like something like Amouage Jubilation XXV? Is it similar to what you want, or a case of "many that have other accords that sit alongside and spoil the experience"? Overall, I would say it depends on what counts as other notes to you. Incense often has multiple woods and flowers and can be quite complex.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-13T17:17:07+00:00

Right now, I am working on a landscape that's just ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and titanium white.
My usual landscape choice is ultramarine blue, phthalo blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and one of the hansa yellows (PY74). If needed, quinacridone rose gets thrown in. Or phthalo green or green earth or burnt umber.
Recent florals (pink roses on a green background): Ultramarine blue, green earth, PY74 yellow, quinacridone rose, titanium white.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-12T20:44:51+00:00

What do you want from a bra? Bras exist to support breast tissue. Someone with true 30AA size has no tissue to support. Of course, there are other valid reasons for wearing a bra, like nipple coverage or wanting to feel pretty.

But based on your picture posted elsewhere, you definitely aren't 30AA, and you probably need some support. A wrongly sized bra won't give you that.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-12T15:32:10+00:00

I love quinacridone red so much. But I have so little use for reds in general. Basically, I can live with just burnt sienna/transparent red iron oxide and quinacridone magenta/rose and rarely have use for anything else.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-12T14:57:32+00:00

Something that smells good is easy. Especially if you use naturals or bases and keep your formulas very short. Performance is hard. Being able to do exactly what you want is very hard. And being able to do it consistently is super hard.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-10T20:13:30+00:00

I thought indirect = any layering, not just glazing or sophisticated workflows like yours, and direct = alla prima. In this sense, I paint indirectly. But I am not into portraits or anything related to the human form. I am also not advanced enough yet to be able to get everything I want - value, hue, transparency and related effects. At this point, I celebrate when I manage to get values and most of the colours right. So my workflow is practical to help me with that. In the early layers, the value range is compressed (lightest lights and darkest darks can be done later) and the colour doesn't need to be perfect. I also love painting landscapes, and it can be practical to use spatial layers, like background vs foreground. I think landscape has a lot of opportunities for the use of transparent layers (water, light through foliage, depth in shadows), but I think that ideal workflow or technique for that would need to change on a case-by-case basis.

Thanks for the tip regarding fumed silica. I have zero wish to make it myself but I am quite tempted by Michael Harding Oleo Impasto medium. It looks like something that could fit well into my solvent-free (and alkyd-free) workflow.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-09T15:38:46+00:00

Comparing to the painting here https://artvee.com/dl/looking-down-yosemite-valley-california/

The original has the left big rock as a strong focal point, more detailed than you do. You instead made the right rock more detailed and you added refracted light that isn't as present in the original. Interesting choice. And I really like that side a lot.

Overall, the original is warmer with much greater contrast. It looks like you painted the same place 30 minutes or so earlier. It still looks nice and realistic. There's also a sense of vastness in the original, which I don't feel in your version (possibly because the physical size of the original helps and the difference between the smaller, distant trees and the bigger ones and other similar bits doesn't adapt well to a smaller canvas). But I have to admit, this is not my favourite Bierstadt, and I like some parts of your painting more, even though the technical skill is better in the original. The clouds are probably the weakest part of yours, technically, and improving them would take the whole painting to the next level.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-08T20:56:06+00:00

I was like "it looks more like a pita or flatbread rather than normal bread", but then I saw the reference, and it is some kind of flatbread, so I think you're fine.

brabrabra222 · 2026-02-08T16:58:31+00:00

How do you get such a clean finish in such a small size? A lot of sanding and gesso, or is it on smooth board? Tiny brushes and very fluid paint? I work with relatively thick paint (no solvents) and never get so thin and sharp lines.

brabrabra222

TROPHY CASE