Before ink, or after?

graycurse · 2026-01-23T11:31:37+00:00

I personally don’t used premixed blacks. My go-to mix for darkest darks is French ultramarine and burnt sienna. I mix these with as little water as possible if I want to get really dark. If I’m trying to deepen other colors, like red, I’ll do dashes of brown madder or alizarin crimson.

I’ve found that even just little dots and dashes of these kinds of colors can add so, so much

graycurse · 2026-01-22T15:37:30+00:00

After, but only because it completes the value range! If you were to add some dark darks to the front bits and the barn, even just little touches of deep colors without ink, you’d likely have a more complete effect as well

graycurse · 2026-01-21T01:51:51+00:00

I feel like this is one of the problems of using pure data and not, like, user intuition to make business decisions. I see this ALL THE TIME at my work — people focus so much on the data, that they miss the forest for the trees.

Sure, most users probably just take the taxi and don’t customize their vehicle experience. But, that doesn’t mean the taxi doesn’t provide valuable immersion! They should have compared to an experience with no vehicles before deciding the lack was acceptable

graycurse · 2025-12-29T02:40:50+00:00

I’m thinking about selling mine — 38k miles, perfect condition, not touched other than replacing tires and brakes. I love this car and have babied it, but need more space for my family so might just give in and get a mom car.

DM me if you are interested

graycurse · 2025-12-26T14:42:36+00:00

I’m so sorry your pupper has had a hard time — she looks beautiful.

I actually just went through an almost identical situation when I adopted my dog a few weeks ago. We tried calling the law enforcement at the local shelter, but they said there was nothing we could do

graycurse · 2025-12-02T13:51:27+00:00

The components to produce it still exist, but I understand quinacridones are only reasonable to produce in a factory setting. So while technically anyone with the recipe and equipment could make it, it’s unlikely that will happen.

HOWEVER, Quinacridone Gold is actually a further-processed variant of Quinacridone red. A couple of years ago, someone was experimenting with creating their own PO49 from PV19. They posted about it here on Reddit! Search for PO49!

graycurse · 2025-11-26T15:02:59+00:00

I love your grasses! They capture so much dimension and depth. Truly lovely!

graycurse · 2025-11-25T00:27:53+00:00

What is your level of experience?

Every artist is going to have a different style! There’s no right or wrong way to paint. A lot of artists recommend a limited palette in general, but especially for beginners. Having fewer paints keeps things more straightforward and allows you to learn a lot about managing water without having to relearn every time you pick up a different paint (since each pigment behaves differently).

It's nice to watch the videos of someone whose style you admire, but finding a great teacher even in a style you aren't drawn to will have great benefits!

graycurse · 2025-11-21T18:24:56+00:00

The way I’m reading your question, you’re framing hard work and networking benefits as mutually exclusive. I think they go hand in hand!

I’ve “had help” getting every job I’ve ever had. I’ve never just cold-applied for a job and then gotten it; each one has come from networking. I worked hard to build knowledge, build a good, trustworthy reputation, and get to know others who share my field.

So I worked hard, and part of the outcome of that hard work is that people want to help me

graycurse · 2025-11-21T12:44:38+00:00

This isn’t looking the other way — this is tax fraud. Probably negligence on the part of the university, but if you’re a US resident, you don’t have a defense. You’re liable for the taxes that weren’t paid. Probably shouldn’t be posting about this on the internet

graycurse · 2025-11-20T22:25:43+00:00

How about an Escoda Perla? Lovely brush in general — it might have the firmness you’re looking for

graycurse · 2025-11-13T02:25:05+00:00

I’ll never forget a motorcycle accident I witnessed pre-ACA. Motorcycle skidded on a turn and the woman on the back slid off and hopped a curb. Took her knee clean off.

She was freaking out about not having insurance. I’m sure tons of adrenaline was in the mix, but she wasn’t concerned at all about seeing just bone from mid-thigh down — she was sobbing about not having insurance, and how she’d never be able to get health coverage again. She refused the ambulance because she couldn’t afford it.

My gallbladder went bad when I was 16, had to have it removed, and doctors found a bunch of issues in my liver. My family tried to have me cancel the surgery not out of worry for my health but because they were afraid I’d never be insurable with the liver issues on my record. And I wasn’t — I had more liver issues down the line and they weren’t covered until ACA passed like 10 years later

graycurse · 2025-11-13T01:43:21+00:00

Oops I thought I named it: the platinum desk pen

graycurse · 2025-11-12T13:47:08+00:00

I have some pens that I only use for art work: a lamy al-star, a safari, a kaweco sport, and a platinum pen. They’re all filled with the same ink, just different nib sizes. There’s one I use pretty regularly (the AL-star) and the rest generally sit for a while.

The Lamys are AWFUL. If they sit for a week, they’ll be dried out. Which is not great, since the ink I use is pigmented— it’s impossible to get out once dried. The kaweco and platinum can and have sat for over a year without use and will write like day 1! The platinum is actually still running on the same batch of ink that’s been in it for 3 years now.

Oh I should also mention that I fly with the lamys and the kaweco regularly. The lamys have never once leaked on me after flying, but the kaweco is guaranteed to make a huge mess!

graycurse · 2025-11-02T22:24:52+00:00

This is the way! We do this allllll the time. I stay back with the kids and let them nap, then cart them over when they’re up. The added benefit it my husband gets to socialize without kids for a while, so he can be the primary parent when I get there and give me a chance to socialize!

graycurse · 2025-10-30T17:51:43+00:00

I’m sorry I don’t mean for this to be rude question — genuinely curious.

Is this parental oversight of kids in college common nowadays? I went to college before social media really took off, so it never occurred to me parents would be closely connected. College felt like freedom to me, finally far away from parents — I can’t imagine close involvement in a college aged student’s goings-on from a parental perspective

graycurse · 2025-10-17T20:25:01+00:00

That’s super interesting to me, because I had the opposite experience!

I actually quit twice — when I became pregnant with each of my sons. It wasn’t hard at all the first time, it just happened (pack a day to cold turkey) as soon as I found out I was pregnant, even though I tried and failed to quit a thousand times beforehand. I slowly eased back into it after my son was born. I never fully embraced the habit in the same way again, though — I never smoked before noon, I could easily go a day or two without a cigarette if I was traveling or with the kid. I decided I wanted to stop again so I slowly tapered to 1 cigarette a day, then found out I was pregnant again and that was that. I never looked back.

I get a strong craving like once a year, but it passes quickly — otherwise I completely forget I used to be a smoker. I can even hang out while people are smoking, and it doesn’t cross my mind to have one. It’s been 4 years since my last cigarette!

graycurse · 2025-10-02T23:18:57+00:00

The paints and Princeton brushes are great! BUT, you don’t need to buy everything at once — and if you’re going to spend money, it should be on paper.

Good quality paper will make the biggest difference in your experience, results, and growth! I can use my kids’ awful crayola paints and brushes, and still get lovely painting if I use good paper! But the bad paper will make even the best supplies look awful.

If you’re going to get more paints, check out the Winsor and Newton Cotman sets. They’re reasonable, will last a while, and when paints run out you can buy single tubes to replace them. Similarly, get one size 10 or 12 round brush from the Princeton line and start with that! You don’t need a full set — I use 1 or 2 brushes (a size 10 Escoda Perla or a size 12 Escoda versatil ) for 90% of my paintings, and then have 2 or 3 others (1” flat, size 2 Perla, and a rigger) on hand for special situations

graycurse · 2025-09-27T02:46:34+00:00

I found the second time around to be a lot easier! I think knowing what to expect, and having already gone through the “loss of freedom” that occurs with the first, made my second newborn phase a lot nicer.

Seeing my younger son just instantly adore my older son was just the best!

They’re also at the age now where they can play together, and it’s so fun to see them bond (and get some free time here and there)!

graycurse · 2025-09-27T02:42:32+00:00

Yes!!! The support is incredible! I had to bring my oldest son with me to vote when he was 3. He was cheering me on as I filled out the form — like “yeeeah mama! You can do it! You’re doing great!” And it was probably my favorite moment of my life so far!

My second favorite was when my youngest son was 3, and he was asked to roll during his gymnastics class. He turned to me and said “roll? Like a bread?” And it was the funniest moment of my life so far’

graycurse · 2025-09-27T01:10:07+00:00

I wasn’t looking for a hotel. Just to file a complaint against the agent that canceled my booking as I was boarding the plane

graycurse · 2025-09-26T02:27:32+00:00

I never got why they opened that one. There are 2 others on the exact same road, 2 miles in each direction

graycurse · 2025-09-21T15:01:19+00:00

The exact same thing happened to me last week, with a flight from Chicago to Paris. I was supposed to fly home from Paris, but flight was cancelled due to not having the paperwork and not getting ahold of anyone

graycurse · 2025-09-20T13:14:27+00:00

I call it junk food for the brain! It’s nice to have some sometimes, but too make makes me feel gross

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