200ok 14 points 9 months ago

Oh, goodie, watercolor?

I was into that in 2020 and 2023! Yes, I know that sounds like I picked up where I left off, but no... I repurchased every single product and tool a second time because I couldn't find the first batch I mugged off!

Please, let's discuss!!

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Nefara 9 points 9 months ago

I used to draw constantly in school as a way of fidgeting and helping myself focus, so I got fairly decent at drawing at the time. I tried painting with water colors and more specifically gouache back then because I liked the idea of adding color to my drawings in a more "grown up" way than colored pencils or markers, but the experience and novelty of it wasn't enough to push me past the mediocrity of my results

Do you still paint with watercolors? What's your favorite subject or style? Did you ever paint something you were happy with?

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200ok 5 points 9 months ago

You're already over my head and I'm envious 😂

I realized (both times) that you need to be good at drawing (i.e. the "basics" of translating stuff into 2D) before you can be good at painting.

I got really good at squeezing paint out of a tube and mixing colours woohoo! I'm certain I'll try it again so there's hope!

I've wanted to try watercolor pencils.. have you tried them before? I wonder if that would be a cool hybrid between drawing and painting

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Nefara 4 points 9 months ago

You're already over my head and I'm envious 😂

Lol I doubt that, I just literally never pass up the chance to say gouache, because it's funny (sounds like gwash, or gowash.... goowash) but I also liked how it was more opaque than normal watercolors so it helped hide all my extra sketch lines.

But yes, something I discovered was that the color you thought something was in your head was never the color something actually is due to lighting and atmospheric conditions so if you're trying to paint something at all representational and even vaguely realistic there's a whole new dimension to mess up in. Making a 3d thing 2d is surprisingly hard for our brains because we keep wanting to replace what we see with "symbols" of the thing.

I think I've tried watercolor pencils? If I did it was only once. I think the experience is like coloring with the pencil, then brushing over it with water to smooth out the scribbles so you get that soft watercolor look. I seem to remember I used the wrong paper so the amount of water I was able to use resulted in the scribbles just getting blurry so I guess if you try them then make sure your paper can handle a good soak, lol.

I met a person who did these neat Zentangle designs, maybe something like that could be a way to enjoy the medium without the pressure of representationalism?

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200ok 3 points 9 months ago

Ouuuuuuuu! Cool, thanks for the ideas/sharing!!

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Pencilnoob 9 points 9 months ago

Just because I have ADHD doesn't mean I have a hobby collecting hobby!

I mean, I do have a hobby collecting hobby, but not because I have ADHD!

ahem

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Nefara 12 points 9 months ago

Everything is interesting and something worth exploring and trying, as long as it prevents me from having to do the thing I don't want to do

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FoxyFerengi 9 points 9 months ago

I literally used that as a selling point for myself in an interview a couple weeks ago, when they asked how I would cross the generational divide while offering mentoring to high schoolers.

I got the job xD

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NeedyPlatter 4 points 9 months ago

Me with crocheting, at least I got a cool blanket and plushies out of it.

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Nefara 5 points 9 months ago

Something I liked about crochet is that it can be formed and shaped easily, to make 3d shapes or to fit around 3d shapes, and unlike knitting you can just do it. If it doesn't fit right or look right you just undo it. For a fiber art it's really improvisational and flexible. Do you have a favorite creation? What's your yarn stash like?

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NeedyPlatter 4 points 9 months ago

Yes, that's my favourite part of crocheting as well!

In terms of my favourite creation, it's hard to say. If I had to choose it would be the blanket I made when I first started out. It's nothing special, it's essentially an upscaled version of the practice double crochets I was doing but it still looks nice. Plus, it's made from a heavy yarn so it's super warm during the winter. But I think it's my favourite piece because of the memories I have of it. While making it, my late cat Princess (cat in photo) would love to lay on the finished bits while I was working on it and of course attack the working yarn. Around the same time, my late cat Potter had to get his coat shaven down due to bad matting. It was November? when he got shaven down so he'd spent a lot of time wrapped up in that blanket to keep warm.

My yarn stash it just a collection of all the yarn I thrifted during my hyper fixation tbh😅 I did manage to get a good amount of wool or cotton yarn for cheap tho.

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Nefara 1 point 9 months ago

Love that! You clearly kept an even tension the whole time, your stitches are very even. Cats love being the first to test yarn projects, haha.

Congrats on finding natural fibers from thrifting, just about everything is acrylic so it's such a thrill to find wool or cotton!

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