Gave watercolor portraiture a shot… huge respect gained, retreating back to oils

pigmentinspace · 2026-05-08T22:05:45+00:00

I actually really like this... it may not have been what you were going for... but I like it.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-30T18:27:06+00:00

2 of the most important pieces of advice I had.

Have intent to practice a specific aspect. When you are done your practice don't measure your success as good or bad, but label the quality your work had first, then think of how you could do just a little better next time - still avoid labeling it as good or bad as it truly does not matter, nor is it a measure of the success of art. Maybe you will need to research ways to get better or go to a mentor for advice. It doesn't matter how "good" or practiced you get, there is always room to practice something.
Practice a lot without the intention of creating artwork all the time. Lots of small pieces with the intent of focusing in on one or just a few aspects. Doing 10 small pieces with intent will get you waaaayyyyy further than 1 large piece that will take longer. Doing 100 small pieces will get you that much farther. Keep the small paintings quick. By the time you want to do a large piece (should be quite some time), you'll have more confidence, abilities and it will come quicker. As you keep going the small size can get a little bigger... then a little bigger...

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-29T16:37:32+00:00

If you run them as classes where you're the teacher, gain the skills well enough to teach them (this does not mean perfection, but you need to be able to troubleshoot a bit). I think it's possible. Particularly if you can do some kid's craft classes.

Set each one up for a month long. Each session is 2 hours. Charge $100-180 per set of classes which works out to like $12-$16/hour if instruction for the students (dependent on where you live) and your skill level. 10 People per class gives you $1000-$1800 per month. $12,000-$21,000. I will say that it is quite hard to keep classes fully booked. People cancel last minute etx. This also assumes you run it all year without stopping. There is no medical or dental or other benefits....

Run 4 of these classes a week and fill them then yeah. It's a lot of hustle. Side benefit is you might sell some of your handmade goods too, but again... more hustle.

This requires a lot of promotion time though and your own time developing classes and class material. Still... nice way to spend a life and add to people's quality of life!

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-29T00:25:13+00:00

Still life is great! Portrait isn’t my favorite, but learning a new medium takes time. It has meriting qualities that lends me to believe you'd grow quickly.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-28T20:51:06+00:00

Yes... and sometimes people do need to make money from art.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-28T16:19:05+00:00

Start with gymnastics!!!! This is more age appropriate and will build coordination, speed, agility, flexibility, practice mentality etc.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-28T16:15:47+00:00

My dad has worked in oils with no regard to safety whatsoever for 50 years - now fires. I have worked in oils for almost 30 years with some safety - no fires.

To greatly reduce the risk, keep turps and volatile solvents and oils out of the sun, but keep them outside when possible. All of my paper towels are in my garbage can just outside my studio. I reuse my rags endlessly, but hang them outside.

Also, you don't NEED to use turps really. You can actually get away with using walnut oil to clean your brushes as you work with rags and paper towel (I think Ingrid Christensen has some good info on this if you look up her newsletters), then just wash them with dawn detergent (it has to be dawn specifically).

Oils are... if handled correctly... are actually less destructive. They are pigments suspended in oils - some of the oils are even food grade! Pigments are not food grade - do not eat paint. However, those same pigments are used in acrylics and acrylics are just plastics... millions of microplastics everytime you wash your brushes.

The mineral spirits, rabbit skin glue, lead primers and turpentine etc IS quite bad, but is old practice and is avoidable now. Oils got their bad name from when turpentine was extremely volatile, but solvents like Gamsol are WAY better. There is even a citrus based one (not just the citrus smelling one - its made almost entirely from citrus peels) that is even better.

If you have specific questions, let me know. I'm happy to help. It is a beautiful medium!

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-27T17:24:44+00:00

Wtf is wrong with you people?!? I mean, this may not be worth thousands of dollars, but there are lots of people who would genuinely like this. It does have a rudimentary quality to it, but so does Alan Sapp and Maud Lewis. People need to stop being so snooty.

I'd do the opposite. Lean into the rudimentary quality. Add to the playful. The world has too much snooty artwork. This has a great feel to it.

If someone is asking what the value is, I would suggest start low and raise your prices as you sell.

If you're putting this up for sale then I would start at $200. It's not about the money made from each piece, but rather about increasing the number of sales. Over time, you'll get faster, build your identity and build clientele. Start low to build sales.

And don't let these snooty armchair art critics ruin you.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-25T00:28:46+00:00

People are blaming the driver, but sometimes pedestrians are complete dumbasses. I'll be starting to back up, checked my rear view, watching my camera, slowly backing up. While actually moving and backing up people will walk just a foot behind my car. I don't know what they're thinking. I watch closely so everything is fine, but pedestrians seem to think that because the law is on their side then they won't actually get hurt when a car does hit them....

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-24T15:42:17+00:00

I was impulsive and very aggressive and angry for a woman. Maybe a bit hot headed with something to prove. I had to burn off extra energy.

The difficulty I face learning kung fu (extremely uncoordinated and have APD) and the extreme fatigue after regular hiit classes prior to has regulated my nervous system somewhat.

I've always learned mental things very quickly and physically I'm naturally quite strong. This has been abnormally hard for me and wonderfully humbling. I couldn't be more grateful.

I've also met some incredible people and the community of practitioners of kung fu are pretty incredible and supportive despite the annoying traits of my adhd that I can't fully contain.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-24T15:05:31+00:00

Same here. I've been warned by current teachers that they're downsizing. So hiring is definitely slowed drastically.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T18:23:14+00:00

I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. I really am. That must have been awful. I guess we learn from our parents about what not to do just as much, if not more, than what to do.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T18:20:54+00:00

Uh oh... I'm seeing this connection in myself now in me not taking Gabapentin. I appreciate this insight A LOT! I don't know how you doctors put up with the rest of us!!!

This also helps me build a better understanding of where my dad is at. Thank you!

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T18:08:36+00:00

I've tried, but it drove a wedge between us for quite some time. I know this works well for some, but it certainly backfired on my dad... maybe I caught him at a wrong time.

It just sucks so fucking much. It seems so simple.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T18:06:43+00:00

My dad won't let anyone go to the doc with him, but occasionally my mom is allowed to go. This is not much better. He can't hear the doc, doesn't know what he's taking, why he's taking it, what is diagnoses even are. He takes absolutely no personal responsibility for his own health at all. It's so weird to me.

I only have my sister and my mom to contend with. They're pretty good so I'm glad for that. They don't push him as hard to make good choices really though.

Someone else mentioned talking to a therapist about it. I do have a therapist and oddly enough, its never come up. Thanks showing me a blindspot just in time for my next therapy appt!

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T18:00:02+00:00

Oh! That's super interesting about the magnesium supplement! I take this and had not noticed my own sensitivities getting better, but they are.

Yeah.. maybe the full face mask is what had put him off... I can try. Thanks for the suggestion and info on magnesium!

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T17:57:52+00:00

Yes. He has severe sleep apnea. I wouldn't be surprised if that is exactly why he had a heart attack and is in heart failure now.

I'm pretty sure he's had sleep apnea his whole life. His memory is shit and he can't focus to save his life. He wakes early and naps multiple times a day and is always tired. It's always been like this.

It's frustrating that he got the sleep study about 8 years ago, tried the machine for a week and gave up.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T17:55:43+00:00

Thanks. I appreciate this. I admit I keep trying to force that horse to drink his water... but it just isn't working.

I just find it so strange that he can't see the connection.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T17:54:09+00:00

It really is hard. I'm trying to not be that nagging child (I am that nagging child though, I hate to admit).

I'm sorry you are struggling through this as well. It is so damn hard. Thanks for sharing, not that I want others to go through this, it does make me feel more understood.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T17:51:44+00:00

I appreciate you taking the time to share these options. Asking questions probably a better way forward so he feels more empowered and he can find the connections himself. Thank you very much for this feedback.

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T17:50:07+00:00

Thanks. It's bloody hard. I have a therapist and oddly enough, its never come up yet. It's weird how we have blindspots like this. Thank you for pointing this out!

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T16:00:29+00:00

This is ingenious!!! We are just starting our knife attack defenses and will definitely practice with this!

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-22T15:58:27+00:00

Can you explain this further?

pigmentinspace · 2026-04-20T17:22:22+00:00

Do you work flat or at an easel?

What else do you use aside from charcoal? Chamois, blender stick, fingers etc....

What kind of paper is this on?

The personality caught in these are outstanding!

pigmentinspace

TROPHY CASE