Wil Wheaton isn't here.Aug 21, 2018

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?

Show threadDel
@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.
Aug 21, 2018 at 9:32pmWeb
Show threadMike T 🌈🔫🕺⚔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 🌈🔫🕺⚔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 🌈🔫🕺⚔Aug 21, 2018
@WelshPixie 👌🏼
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. ^.^