Wil Wheaton isn't here.

Is anyone else here learning how to paint with #BobRoss? I've watched about 50 Joy of Paintings, and I've done three (bad) paintings of my own.

I'm slowly getting better at some things, but I'm still mostly incompetent, and I'm wondering if anyone else is learning, and has experiences or tips to share that have helped your learning curve?

Aug 21, 2018 at 9:07pmWeb
Show threadWil Wheaton isn't here.Aug 22, 2018

I just wanted to take a moment and thank those of you who reached out with #painting advice and suggestions. Your kindness was awesome, and you were genuinely helpful.

I'm still climbing the learning curve, but I did my 4th #BobRoss painting today, and I like more about it than I don't like.

Show threadSuwAug 22, 2018
@wilw That's awesome!! Trust me: You got this!
Show threadCrazypedia Aug 22, 2018
@wilw nice! πŸ˜ƒ
Show threadNyra DrakaeAug 22, 2018
@wilw Nice work on the colours, man! Keep going πŸ˜€
Show threadAleen SimmsAug 22, 2018
@wilw nice, especially for your fourth painting!
Show thread Kat DrawsAug 22, 2018
@wilw Those mountains look really nice! πŸ‘
Show thread42MillyWaysAug 22, 2018

@wilw

Best weekend stream i suggest is the Bob Ross channel on twitch 😊

Just wanting a nice little stream.

https://mastodon.social/media/KK3DUqsnHeoHgDrKoDc

Show threadraphael, now @[email protected]Aug 22, 2018
@wilw wow, look at that impasto paint for the snow on the mountains! and the atmospheric blue for the distant trees is really neat, too! i dig it! :D #lookatyougo
Show threadWil Wheaton isn't here.Aug 22, 2018
@gekitsu I did that on purpose! I'm glad you noticed!
Show threadraphael, now @[email protected]Aug 22, 2018
@wilw high fives are in order, dear sir!
Show threadDoc Edward Morbius βŒβ€‹Aug 22, 2018

@wilw Keep this up. I can barely sketch, but have had a few artist rommates, including professionals. You've got at the very least a good solid base of colour, composition, shading, and shape. Much the rest is technique and practice.

Alsso some awesome other artists in this thread, I've added some follows.

Show threadJ WyniaAug 22, 2018
@wilw That looks like really solid progress.
Show threadMatthew Bogart πŸ–Aug 22, 2018
@wilw heck yeah! Looks great! Keep it up!
Show threadBobo_PK πŸ¦„Aug 22, 2018
@wilw oh what a happy little tree
Show threadMaria VarmazisAug 22, 2018
@wilw fantastic work! definitely keep it up!
Show threadLord Guysbert de Fieri Aug 22, 2018
@wilw the bit with the blue trees and the lake in the middle is SO GOOD!!!
Show threadNicholas KohAug 22, 2018
@wilw the things you didn't like were just happy little accidents... :)
Show threadRainbowPhoenixAug 22, 2018
@wilw
Thank you for sharing you journey learning a new skill. I have been greatly enjoying your paintings
Show threadBig Eyed MishaAug 22, 2018
@wilw that looks great, Bob Ross would love it
Show threadBrianAug 22, 2018
@wilw Great job! Hang it up!
Show threadSebastian HahnAug 22, 2018
@wilw Wow! I really like that! Keep it going! πŸ‘πŸ»
Show threadNickAug 22, 2018
@wilw The colors on the lake are awesome
Show threadSven πŸ›ŒAug 22, 2018
@wilw To be honest, that's amazing. I like it a lot. Good work!
Show threadINACTIVEAug 22, 2018
@wilw that's pretty decent! My favorite thing is probably the use of color; particularly the pink, yellow, and blue in the lake and sky
Show threadPaul DuffieldAug 22, 2018
@wilw Lovely colour choices!
That's often the hardest aspect of painting to develop, I find! Took me years to get confident enough to even use colour much at all.
Show threadIbnAug 22, 2018
@wilw dude. that looks great. I really plan on doing those myself someday if I ever have the room for it.
Show threadLuricaun the SmolAug 22, 2018
@wilw
I don't know if it's better than your previous versions and to be honest it doesn't matter. It should be about what you like or make you happy and that should be all about it. Not more. If people like it, it's ok. If they don't it's ok too. Remember that's important that you like it.
Show threadMantis Space Marine on TwitterAug 22, 2018
@wilw Oh, that's nice!
Show threadMantis Space Marine on TwitterAug 22, 2018
@wilw If you want some evidence of how regular practice can get you from "eh" to "wow," I can rec some webcomics, too! (Zap! webcomic, iirc, for one.)
Show threadMark Shane HaydenAug 22, 2018

@wilw

As said by the man himself  

Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you're willing to practice, you can do.

(If mastodon.cloud doesn't have the "blobross" emoji by now they should add it STAT lol)

Show threadπŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  πŸ‡³πŸ‡±Aug 21, 2018
@wilw Not me but a close friend of mine is a brilliant artist. I can put you in touch. Otherwise on here I recommend you talk to @Curator he runs the art instance here.
Show threadUncle JoshAug 21, 2018
@wilw I'm sure they're not *bad* but merely *beginner*. Like any skill, you have to let yourself suck. The Ross method is about being relaxed about painting, so don't fear the first paintings, but enjoy the process.
Show threadTim Pastoor βœ…Aug 21, 2018
@wilw Idk. Lots and lots and lots of practice? Easier said than done.
Show threadWil Wheaton isn't here.Aug 21, 2018
@tim This is my favorite thing!
Show threadMaria VarmazisAug 21, 2018
@wilw his "happy accidents" philosophy and willingness to go with the flow is even more important than technique IMO. it can be so frustrating when your work doesn't look "how it should," but at a certain point when you learn to embrace it (while continuing to practice) it's like... galaxy brain
Show thread Kat DrawsAug 21, 2018

@wilw When you're learning any new art skill, *quantity* is better than quality.

I struggle with that a lot, because I tend to be a perfectionist. (I get hung up on minor details, and become frustrated when things don't turn out how I want.)

But you learn more by trying [and failing] a bunch than you do by sinking all your time into one single painting.

And be nice to yourself while you're learning. πŸ‘

Show threadWil Wheaton isn't here.Aug 21, 2018
@katwylder Thanks for this. I'm *such* a perfectionist, I can be really hard on myself when the thing in my head doesn't make it through my hands to the canvas. I'll remember what you said about repetition and practice.
Show thread Kat DrawsAug 21, 2018

@wilw I actually devised a way to trick my brain into cooperating. Maybe something like this can help you, too.

I keep at least one sketchbook at all times for "bad" art. Everything in it is allowed to be really crappy, and I don't have to show it to anyone.

But at least half the time, I end up being *really* pleased with what I've drawn in that sketchbook, because I didn't psych myself out with expectations.

Show thread✨Heather G.  βœ¨Aug 21, 2018
@katwylder @wilw I've done this trick, too. XD I have my sketchbook and my "shitbook". I draw a lot more in my shitbook, and it's a lot more fun, too!
Show threadSuwAug 22, 2018

@wilw @katwylder Last year I decided to do something new and creative each month, including drawing. I found that the most important thing was not setting any expectations, letting myself be a bit crap, but also embracing repetition.

Here's a post that exemplifies both crapness and repetition: https://chocolateandvodka.com/2017/03/20/c17-day-79-let-me-tell-you-a-tail/

The other key lesson was flexibility, eg drawing from life is hard, so I drew from photos. https://chocolateandvodka.com/2017/03/

Mostly, though, I learnt to enjoy the process.

Show threadThe OddityAug 21, 2018
@wilw Yes, have silly contests with your friends where someone comes up with a theme. Usually the funnier, the better. Put a short time limit on it so you don't take yourself too seriously. That way you learn to be economical with brush strokes and relax. You also tend to have a lot of fun with it because you are playing with your friends. Having thirty minutes to paint a Dachshund Mona Lisa, potentially after a homebrew tasting session, will open your eyes to a whole new joy of painting. Trust me πŸ™‚
Show threadDelAug 21, 2018
@wilw I'm not but I taught myself mandala-drawing two years ago, and went from 'hah so bad' to 'wow' in about a year. A year of constant practice, drawing sometimes several hours a day (I was lucky that I had the time to sink into it), and posting things online for encouragement (positive reinforcement really helps with motivation!). Painting is a skill and needs practice - handling the brush, the paint, building the muscles in your fingers and hands, honing your hand-eye coordination.
Show threadMike T πŸŒˆπŸ”«πŸ•Ίβš”Aug 21, 2018

@WelshPixie

What?! Two years?!

You are a seriously impressive human my friend!

Show threadDelAug 21, 2018
@viTekiM Well, my situation is a bit unique in that I wasn't working so I had all day every day to practice as much as I wanted. So I'd literally draw every day; at first my hand would cramp after about 20 minutes but that got better and I could spend longer periods drawing. I loved it, and still love it, which helps loads, obviously.
Show threadMike T πŸŒˆπŸ”«πŸ•Ίβš”Aug 21, 2018

@WelshPixie Still... so good! :)

It's good to love what you do!

Show threadDelAug 21, 2018
@viTekiM It really is. My grandfather always used to say that if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life. ^.^
Show threadMike T πŸŒˆπŸ”«πŸ•Ίβš”Aug 21, 2018
@WelshPixie πŸ‘ŒπŸΌ
Show threadDelAug 21, 2018

@wilw here's a before/after. The first one took about 30 minutes in A5 paper and my hand was cramping after it. This has been tidied up a bit digitally.

The second is a recent one, and the third was after about a year. They each took about six hours in a few sittings, but now I can draw for 2-3 hours straight and have WAY more patience (as well as skill!).

Show threadWil Wheaton isn't here.Aug 21, 2018
@WelshPixie omg that's absolutely beautiful! You're inspiring me!
Show threadDelAug 21, 2018
@wilw <3 Yay! Seriously just keep going. Reading through the thread on that post it looks like you're enjoying yourself anyway, so keep doing it. You'll be doing something relaxing, fun and meditative, with the coincidental side-effect of learning and improving a new skill. ^.^
Show threadEric VitielloAug 21, 2018
@wilw I've done a few so far last year, with a few more planned. Tip #1: Bob Ross is ridiculously good and you're not going to be that good without a ton of practice. #2: You can reproduce some of the effects with acrylics, but you'll need an extender to keep it wet. #3: "Liquid white" is basically titanium white with a lot of linseed oil, about a 75/25 split. #4: Bob Ross is really good.
Show threadWilliam HopkinsAug 21, 2018
@wilw
I am also trying to learn to paint. Biggest help for me was letting myself do weird abstract paintings alongside the realistic ones I really wanted to learn to make. I'm learning to listen to my artistic voice even when I don't produce anything I like or it seems to run counter to what I'm trying to do.
Show thread*MOVED* See pinned toot.Aug 21, 2018

@wilw

Art teacher here.

Learning to paint is something like learning any art media, so I would not be shocked if you've heard the following before. Apologies if that's the case.

Take the parts that are hard for you and make paintings full of that. They'll be atrocious, just like mine were when I did the same thing.

Don't worry about making good paintings. Make crappy paintings. Make lots of them.

Fail, then learn from it and fail better the next time.

Show threadBillSaysThisAug 21, 2018
@wilw Try a PaintNite. The wife and I have done half a dozen now.
Show threadNicholas KohAug 21, 2018
@wilw oh man. I got bitten by the Bob Ross bug hard a couple of months back and in typical me fashion, bought a slew of paints and brushes and canvases... Basically everything short of looking for an agent. Hahaha. Did 3 oil paintings that could be showcased in the Local Myopia Museum of Disillusionment, and that's it for my journey for now.
Show threadBrianAug 22, 2018
@wilw I haven't, but that's a great idea. I'm going to start doing it too!
Show threadBig Eyed MishaAug 22, 2018
@wilw what are you trying to do? Are you working in acrylics? If so I might be able to give a few tips that have helped me over the years.
Show thread𝓦π“ͺ𝓡𝓭𝓼𝓬𝓱𝓻π“ͺ𝓽Aug 22, 2018
@wilw Never thought, that painting is something you can learn. Ever thought, this is something you can do or you can't.
Show threadWil Wheaton isn't here.Aug 22, 2018
@brzl8 before Bob Ross, I thought the same thing.
Show threadpbredenbergAug 22, 2018
@wilw at age 9, I first learned to draw shapes with the appearance of 3d from Bob Ross (VHS FTW), and that has stuck with me my whole life. It’s impressed upon me that when you receive a building block towards a skill, reinforce it, add to it if you’re so inclined, and heed the advice of the immortal Sparks herein: https://youtu.be/doK9Jo0wVx8
Sparks - How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall

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