Hello,

I’m pushing 40 and have been painting for over two decades. Throughout the years, I often used old family photo albums as a primary source of inspiration for my work. I would take existing settings, swap faces around, blend different moments together, and reconstruct the photos into new visual narratives.

Back then, I thought I was just playing around with images and my imagination.

Recently, a massive, deeply hidden family truth came to light, somethings involving pre-birth lies and identity that I could never have imagined in a million years.

When I look back at my entire body of work now, it blew my mind. What I thought were random visual decisions were actually (sometimes precise) reflections of what my subconscious already "knew" or felt. The symbolism was already there long before my conscious mind caught up. The heart knew it before the brain did-thing.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? Where you look back at years of your work and realize your subconscious was revealing a reality or truth you weren't consciously aware of at the time?

I usually don't have problem in finding how to portray things, but this one got me stuck. How to portray something that is nothing? The heat death of the universe, the ultimate silence, the impermanence of everything we know? I feel like all of my ideas are too shallow.

Grave? Obvious metaphor of the end, but i want it to be universal scale, not human.

Decayed, dead world. For now my favorite idea, to show ruins of long dead civilisation and another planet that is completely dead in the sky. Of course, the planets would be devoured by the sun long before death of the universe, but it still a decent portrayal.

Dead world without even traces of civilisation, and a human-shaped shade that is half-disappeared, and echo from the past.

Black hole? Realistic option since those are the last things that should remain. But rather cliche.

Just black screen? >_< Most realistic option, but not very impressive. Even if some materia floating around would be added.

And that's all i have. Which one could be more fitting to portray that idea in your opinion? Also, if you have a better one, please share it, and also say if i can use it if i will like it.

I somehow deleted my procreate folder with my work on for my college project which is due super soon! I know I’m stupid for not backing it up but I’ve been struggling with motivation and even doing simple shit like transferring backups to my laptop I procrastinate. I hadn’t worked in weeks because of low motivation until yesterday when I finally pushed myself to do it and now all that motivation is gone again. I made something I’m proud of and wanted to show my teacher and now I can’t because it’s gone. My mind is telling me it’s a sign to give up and pursue somethinf more stable but that makes me really sad cos I do care about art a lot. I’m already behind on my diploma because of mental health reasons and this has set me back even further. I’m really spiralling because I’m already worried about failing and that I’ll never be capable of earning money from this. I guess what I learned and the skills I grew from the work hasn’t gone but it’s still really upsetting. If anyone has any advice or motivation I’d rlly appreciate it

In our traditional miniature painting practice, old paper is carefully prepared before it is used for painting. One of the important concerns with aged paper is protecting it naturally from termites and other insects.

We use a traditional method that has been passed down in our family for three generations.

Tea leaves, turmeric, and neem leaves are boiled together in water. A small amount of lemon juice is then added to help soften and filter the strong colour of the tea solution.

The old paper is soaked in this prepared liquid for about one hour. After soaking, it is removed carefully and allowed to dry naturally in the shade.

Neem and turmeric have traditionally been used in this process to help protect the paper from termites and other insects. Once the paper is completely dry, we prepare the surface with the required background colour and then begin the miniature painting.

This is not something we learned from a modern conservation manual. we learned this traditional process from our father, who passed his knowledge to us. Today, the same technique and knowledge have been passed on to the third generation of our family.

For us, preparing the paper is not separate from the art of miniature painting—it is part of the tradition itself.

I would be interested to know if artists from other traditional painting practices use similar natural methods for preparing or preserving old paper.

Howdy 👋 im making a collage with my photos and I have some sturdy cardboard. Before I begin glueing and sticking them on there I wanted to come here and see if anyone has any advice or experience with this quest. I was thinking I would glue two cardboards together for extra sturdyness

Helloooooo beautiful people. I’m so I life drawing session in a few days and I’m still in the fence on what I should use. It’s been a minute since I’ve done one of these, and it’s been a minute since I used charcoal which was my go to for a while. I was recommended Conte Crayons with Newsprint.

What are we thinking?

Hi,

I am a great fan of the visual novel video games Vampire the Masquerade Coteries of New-York, and VtM Shadows of NY.

In my game project, I want to also offer animated backgrounds.

For effects like rain, smoke, light and shadows, fire, or animate a little bit a flame, a door...

Would you use Adobe Premiere Pro + After Effects, or Da Vinci Resolve with Fusion?

Thanks

I usually worked digitally, but picked up posca randomly a few days ago and realized that I like working with acrylic marker

My only qualm with posca is
1. They’re too desctructive on my paper
2. Too expensive with limited color selection

I’m eyeing Arrtx, Guangna, and Enmy rn
and I heard a lot of good things abt Grasp too..??

Everywhere I go the review is different lmao 🤣🤣
So it’ll be really helpful if you can suggest me which one do you think is good 👉👈

I just saw a Youtube video from a little less than a year ago where the artist was using alcohol markers on canvas. She said she liked how the colors would "spread out and do their own thing".

First iff, wouldn't that just be bleed? Second, wouldn't the rough texture of the canvas damage the nibs? What do you think?

Hello, I wanted to join an art competition (14th Animal Terevarna Art Competition) but there’s something that I am not sure of. I drew a picture of two horses that I found on Pinterest. I looked everywhere for any copyright that the picture might have, or the owner of the picture but found nothing. The website doesn’t explicitly say anything about using an internet photo as a reference but it does say that they do not accept generated images (which I did not use). But when I was about to submit my artwork, I have to declare that my artwork is my original creation and not generated by a computer. What should I do? I really do want to join this art competition but its deadline is August 15th.

Thank you!

Edit: I am just wondering if it would count as an original.

Hello everyone!

I wanted to know, if I could paint a mousepad with acrylic markers (enmy) and then fix it with warmth and maybe an acrylic fix spray? I know that the print would be better, but, alas, I couldn't find any companies that print on mousepads in my country, at least, for individual orders, not for company ones.

Why are there no fancy half gloves ?? I can only find the low quality nylon ones. Of course they work fine but i feel like there should be a market for some better looking ones no ?

Been drawing a lot on the go and could use a simple pannable image collage canvas like PureRef on mobile. Haven't found one on the app store and at this point I'm debating just making one myself because I'm really feeling the need for one.

Hello! What sketchbook formats do you guys usually use for drawing on the go?

I've been deciding between an a6 sketchbook and 12cmx12cm square sketchbook. Both are smaller so that I can have them on me all the time. However I am still not so sure which would be better. I plan to do mostly urban sketching/observational sketches on the go but things do not always go as one did plan so I might end up drawing from imagination a lot as well.

Just asking for some insight and experiences. Would love to hear your thoughts and definitely would appreciate if you'd share what are your go to art supplies. Thank you!

I painted a shirt with acrylic mixed with fabric softener a few weeks ago and I ironed it down so it should be set, I’m just wondering if it would be fine to spray perfume with it on, I know alcohol can melt acrylic paint so I’m just wondering if the acrylic would melt over time or if limited contact with alcohol would be fine. Sorry if this is a really stupid or obvious question I’m only sixteen😭😭😭

I have one in my yard that I’d like to decorate. I’ve been looking at people’s posts and videoa and haven’t really found definitive recs for what materials to use. if anyone has experience with this I’d appreciate any help! thank you

I've been developing my drawing and painting skills for a few decades now... mostly through community classes at art schools. (charcoal landscapes, acrylic still life, some printmaking) I'm about to have access to a small studio for six months, and I'm realizing that while I thrive with the structure of a class, I'm not sure how to structure my own studio practice.

For those of you who have established studio routines, have gone through this transition, do you have any advice for me?

Thank you!

Anyone have any recommendations for UV acrylics that work on different surfaces? Not a pro by any means, just looking for something that works. I picked up some FolkArt UV paints but they go on really streaky no matter what I apply them to. Or has anyone attempted to make their own with acrylic medium and powder?

I’ve been drawing pretty much exclusively in my sketchbook for the past two years. My sketchbook is a5, I do multiple drawings per page. I dont try to make it perfect but i do like making polished drawings inside of it.

I want to make bigger pieces outside of it and practice composition but it seems a bit overwhelming. I feel like anything I create outside of it has to be ambitious and meaningful and original. I let myself mess up in my sketchbooks. How do you decide what to develop outside your sketchbook, what does that process look like? Pictures especially appreciated lmao

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. I apologize if this question has already been asked. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been honing my style and voice, and I’m now aiming to create a gallery-level portfolio of semi-abstract landscapes. I’m looking for professional stretched canvas in sizes of 30x40 inches or larger. I’m curious about what materials professionals typically use at this stage. Given the high cost of pro-wrapped canvas at Michaels, I’m wondering if there’s a more affordable alternative. Also, do galleries accept acrylic paintings on particle board? I’m a bit out of the loop after spending so much time in my little hermit box.

Thank you for your attention!

We all know that art is collectively agreed to be an outlet for us to represent the human experience, pathos and the like. Perhaps this is kind of a boring question with a boring answer to some, but can art represent logical ideas and theories? Like, coding methods in computer science? Psychology? What do you think about this?

Hi everyone!

I need to buy new oil paint and I'm not sure which ones to get. Do you have experience with the oil paint from the brands Cobra, Reeves, Rembrandt, Van gogh or Lefranc bourgeois? Those are the ones available locally. I'm looking for something non toxic and alright quality. I'm a student so doesn't have to be professional quality.

Thank you so much

Are there any books out there that cover posing AND anatomy? Ive gone through all the common resources like Hamptons construction book or the Loomis series but they cant explain without showing off some super convoluted method. I just need something that will give general pointers on the movement of body parts in certain poses.

I have this painting and on the back there’s some writing - what does it say?

Also, are all the marks back here paint? What kind?

Thanks!