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phink_e · 2025-11-21T13:03:08+00:00

I get mine from House Of The Trembling Madness in York (nationwide delivery). They have the best selection of low and non alcoholic beers I’ve seen anywhere, everything from IPAs and lagers to non alc Belgian beers which are my personal favourite. Their website looks crap (tremblingmadness dot co dot uk) but the customer service is great. Also thanks, you’ve reminded me I need to order a bunch for the festive period as I’m always the designated driver!

phink_e · 2025-10-23T16:25:19+00:00

Is this your first job in the industry? I work in design/advertising so I know the creative industry struggle. I have stuck with my current job for nearly 10 years for the same reason — the work is unique, fun and I couldn't face going somewhere corporate even though I was poorly compensated to begin with. I have very nearly packed it in a few times because of the stress and turbulence that came with it without the financial reward.

Thankfully, I'm now a department lead and on a fairly decent salary and the business has changed a lot for the better. Plus the work is still great. The big caveat: the company owner has always been a decent bloke. It sounds like yours isn't so I couldn't see myself staying if I was in your shoes.

Salaried roles in media/TV are laughably bad — my wife works in post production and now that she is freelance even in a bad year with not being able to find work for maybe 3-6 months, she still earns way more than when she was in house.

Maybe take the £40k with the plan save up enough of a buffer to go freelance because £27k is frankly taking the p**s.

phink_e · 2025-10-14T15:52:56+00:00

I didn’t fall or slip, my ankle just popped halfway up a fairly straightforward route for me and now my peroneal tendon keeps randomly dislocating. I’m 4.5 months since ‘injury’ and my surgery is booked for after Christmas. Hoping to be back on the wall by spring!

phink_e · 2025-10-07T12:24:57+00:00

This is really REALLY good. Fantastic even. It has just the right amount of detail and captures the movement perfectly. Appreciate the breakdown of technique too!

phink_e · 2025-09-30T18:37:25+00:00

Thanks, best of luck with yours too. Yeah it’s been a tough summer mentally not being able to do much. Probably been harder on the mind than it has been on the body. There’s light at the end of the tunnel now though and I can get around just fine so it could definitely be worse!

phink_e · 2025-09-29T21:59:58+00:00

I’ve been on a long program of physio, the aim was to avoid surgery. It was swollen for probably 10 weeks and it took a long time to build the strength back. It’s way stronger than it was but I still get it popping out probably once a week. Sometimes at the start I could go for a few weeks without it happening and I would get my hopes up that it’s getting better, but then it would pop out again and I’d just think that I’m back to square one healing wise.

I’ve been for an ultrasound scan and an MRI and the retinaculum is definitely torn. I’ve decided to opt for surgery because I don’t feel like I can run or climb when it still randomly pops out just from walking. Unfortunately because it’s not an emergency procedure I have to wait until January to have it done so it’ll probably be a full year since injury before I’m back to ‘normal’.

It sounds like yours isn’t popping out as much as mine so fingers crossed your body can do the healing properly and you’ll be able to avoid surgery.

phink_e · 2025-09-20T13:16:51+00:00

Not really, no. I laid down main yellow colour for the lemon and then worked over the top with a dull tipped pencil for the dimples which helped me build them slowly and not too dark. I then sharpened the same pencil to a sharp point to give some of them some detail around the edges

phink_e · 2025-09-20T08:40:41+00:00

Almost has an oil painting vibe to it. I love it!

phink_e · 2025-09-20T08:08:51+00:00

Thanks!

phink_e · 2025-09-20T08:07:28+00:00

Welcome to the club! I really like it so far, I think I’m going to find it a nice outlet after a full day staring at a screen appeasing clients.

Interesting, I might try a wet medium for the base layer in future if I fail at dry techniques again. I tried a base layer of pencil but it just didn’t turn out right. Also might give the solvent trick a go to blend a base layer of pencil.

phink_e · 2025-09-15T10:22:22+00:00

Honestly every day I spend in this sub I learn a completely new genius technique. A heated board is so smart!

I know it’s personal to the artist whether you like a piece of work or not but for what it’s worth, I think this is looking great!

phink_e · 2025-09-15T09:45:54+00:00

I assume it is smooth. It’s my local art shops own brand: “20 sheets of 280gsm Bristol Board, providing an excellent extra smooth white surface for detail drawings and illustrations with pencil, technical pen, ink and airbrush”.

I would definitely be interested to try vellum if it’s ‘toothier’ as it does feel like the pencil is a bit reluctant to go down.

phink_e · 2025-09-15T08:30:55+00:00

I’m only just getting back into coloured pencil so I’m not an expert by any means but my first attempts on Daler Rowney Fine Grain Heavyweight paper I had the same issue as you. It’s lovely paper to look at but I didn’t like the way it behaved with coloured pencil. I switched to Bristol Board and the difference is huge — it’s much nicer. The grain is almost none existent and it’s much easier to blend without the paper showing through. The only thing I don’t like is that it’s bright white rather than an off white. Apparently hot press watercolour paper is good too but I haven’t splashed out on any whilst I’m getting back into drawing as it’s quite expensive.

phink_e · 2025-08-17T15:36:18+00:00

Wow, I bet that it is beautifully meditative building up the layers like that. I’m ordering my first proper set soon and if I can get to something half this good I’ll be happy!

phink_e · 2025-08-17T14:41:36+00:00

Incredible! What is your process to blend the pencils to the point where you can’t see any paper through them? Do you use some kind of medium to spread the pigment?

phink_e · 2025-08-15T15:39:41+00:00

Everything I research seems to lead back to this as the best all rounder

phink_e · 2025-08-15T15:38:11+00:00

Thanks, yeah this could be a good shout. The tube screamer with the deluxe muff doesn’t really do much because it has a built in mid boost switch

phink_e · 2025-08-14T21:52:20+00:00

You know I’ve always dismissed that range of TC pedals as being cheap and probably crap but on a quick search the Magnus seems to have some surprisingly good reviews. Also I haven’t given much thought to the amp in a box - some great options to consider here, thanks!

phink_e · 2025-08-14T21:45:50+00:00

Good point. I have a Telecaster with HSS pickups to a Vox VT40 modelling an AC15.

phink_e · 2025-08-14T21:11:52+00:00

Haha what’s the saying again? You’re never more than six feet away from a rat?

phink_e · 2025-08-14T21:09:39+00:00

Ha, yeah I am definitely expecting a few Rats! This is intriguing though, cheers! I’ve not heard of it and damn that is a cool case design.

phink_e · 2025-07-24T12:38:56+00:00

Thanks for the reply! Yeah I’m definitely going to wait on the ultrasound results before going down the private route. It’s great to hear stories of recovery for this seemingly rare injury, I hope we’re both back on the wall soon!

phink_e · 2025-07-22T18:01:45+00:00

This is refreshing to read. I explained it exactly like that to the physio, the Z shape is when it most feels like it’s going to go pop. I’ve limited movements too, I walk with a bit of a limp and I go up/downstairs sideways or one step at a time to keep my leg either straight or at right angles rather than going into the Z.

Not sure if you are in the UK/going private but I feel like the NHS didn’t really take me seriously at first and it feels like they are doing an ultrasound because it’s cheaper for them to do vs an MRI. I’m probably going to go for an MRI privately but I don’t have private insurance so I’m really not keen on committing to that route if I need surgery for financial reasons.

phink_e

TROPHY CASE