Dare to suck, post the first

[datista]

I like painting, I like writing, I like a great many things I don't want to show other people because OCD mixed with a dollop (okay, an avalanche) of perfectionism means I'm much more likely to kill things off. http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/2010/04/27/ An author I'

Comments

[hannalice]

*giggles* And to think I actually really like the branches.

[datista]

If I mentally step back, they give mostly the right impression. Problem is, I know what I wanted to do and what didn't quite work is slightly embarrassing. Where I remembered to thin it down and use it like water color, I kinda like those shadowy, wispy looking branches.

A big part of my frustration is the way acrylic dries so fast. I prefer working in oils, but I don't like waiting for them to oxidize and harden between layers.

I am glad I'm doing this, but breaking the old "fuck, but I SUCK!" thought pattern is not so easy.

[datista]

If you like watercolors, acrylic can be like watercolors on steroids. Add water to acrylic to do everything you do with WCs. Use it out of the tube like oil. Build layers and seal in small objects for texture. Then, if you don't like it, paint it white and reuse the canvas. It's still probably my least favorite paint, next to watercolors, because I love how forgiving oil can be, and how you can work wet on wet for ages to build soft or sharp edges