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Couture ClosetWhether you want to show off your craft magic or showcase your original artwork, this is the place for all our SS creators to share their talents.
How to ART When You're Bad at ART; A List Compiled by an Amateur
Hello and welcome to my portfolio thread. Let me make very clear that all I claim to be is someone who enjoys mucking around creatively. I lay no claim to being good at anything. In fact, I'm sort of shy about sharing because it's just 'goofing around' for me, but some very lovely SSers have shown an interest and encouragement and, honestly, I can't take their bullying anymore. (Looking at you, Kath).
I'll be sharing some things I've been working on, and also some tips on how to flex creatively when you have absolutely no skill to do so.
So. Be kind, and be sure to visit often and wave at me, because I love to wave back.
hello I wrote you a post but then it accidentally got a little long so I put it under a spoiler in case I startle you
SPOILER!!: bill don't look at me i'm hideous
I'm going back a fair way here and trying very hard to restrain myself so as not to overwhelm you with the words (but you can probably see by now that I failed)
I really like seeing how you use and apply colour so that it all fits so well together and makes for pieces that are sometimes striking and vibrant and sometimes softer and gentler and sometimes both in the same picture, depending on what the image calls for, and also how you play with the light. you can make things look so warm and vibrant and like clearly a sunny day even though there's no sun pictured in the painting, like, you can make them glow. and often I get a sense of what time of day it is too based on colour and shadow and atmosphere
also shading, which I've mentioned about your art many times and tbh I still think shading with watercolour is wizardry no matter what you say. you also have such skill with the detail you can get into these pieces, either with paint or with ink, and you get them to look so clean. ?????. I also don't understand how it did not take you literal years to do all these.
looking at your paintings of all the different places (all of your work actually I can't lie but the world paintings are what I've been looking at today) gives me a great sense of calm, and the brightly coloured and vibrant ones evoke a sort of... uh. lively calm. or maybe I just described happiness. anyway. your art makes me happy. there, i said it. jeez.
I was going to post this as is but couldn't do so without mentioning any specific pieces so I'm trying very hard to be decisive and concise but honestly i wanted to talk about every single one. I regret taking so long getting back here bc now I can't wax lyrical about each piece without this post becoming eight miles long.
SPOILER!!: somehow I kept it to 10
Republic of the Congo - I always love your pieces where you get so many colours into them, I won't ever deny it, but the way this one is just a few colours, one very bright, and framed through leaves which are also painted in a way I really enjoy looking at
Dominican Republic - what caught me here was the colours and light and shadows on the buildings for sURE, but also the trees in the background, with such a light touch, and those three main colours playing off of each other
Egypt - the colours in the sky grabbed me here for sure, but also the shadows behind and on those pyramids, and the texture of them, so so beautiful. I think that's a sunrise? you've captured it so well
Eswatini - the different colours in the trees work so well here, and the ink detailing where it appears. I kept going back to look at this one a lot, there's something about the style I find so appealing
France - I'm a huge fan of the way you do detailing especially in buildings but then you also do something like this and it is wicked enchanting, and such a pretty effect, the atmospheRE
Greece - the way you've got the reflections of colour and sunlight bouncing off the white is so pretty and very effective, and the whole thing is just super beautiful ugh
Iceland - ;; I say a lot about your use and application of colour so I'm not going to say it now, but it's heavily implied, but also this one made me feel things. it's a similar and yet in other ways very different vibe to what you do later with Norway, which also happens to make me feel things. it's the lonely looking buildings for me.
Israel - actually every piece in that same post caught my eye for similar reasons, this one especially cause it's that DOME that is just incredible, and the detailing in the building, I'm v taken by how you've painted the details just beneath the dome, but in all the pieces in that same grouping of paintings, your buildings are amazing. also stop incorporating light so well all the time, I keep wanting to talk about it
Namibia - I'm sorry I'm really trying to rein it in but what to heck this is incredible, there's the heat and the boldness of it that holds your attention but also the direction of the brush strokes have been used so effectively here, AND the contrast of it all, I. ugh.
Russia - your mastery of buildings *-* I feel like you might yell at me for calling it mastery but you should know I'll only say it again louder, the shapes you've captured here, and also I like it because of the way you've painted domes has evolved over time and in every single instance I am all kinds of impressed. I love love love the shadows on this one too
I am so sorry. no response to all that expected, i just really wanted to say it. you can smile and nod and focus on this next part instead:
looking at your art is such a treat and a comfort and brings a kind of serenity that I hope you also get from creating it. I'm mad at you for making me feel things though. also seeing how your style and skills have changed and progressed over time is so amazing and interesting and wicked cool. ugh. love it here. and you. I will not wait so long before posting again next time but even though I don't always have access to the words right away, I always always love to see what you've been working on
__________________
Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You?
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Moose
Ern I'm speechless. I haven't even gone through all of these yet but I'm working through them now. I just had to say I am so very much impressed. Your Water Coloring is amazing I absolutely love Palou and Oman.
Well, get going, Jay! Thank you for stopping by and looking through my paintings <3<3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Felixir
hello I wrote you a post but then it accidentally got a little long so I put it under a spoiler in case I startle you
SPOILER!!: bill don't look at me i'm hideous
I'm going back a fair way here and trying very hard to restrain myself so as not to overwhelm you with the words (but you can probably see by now that I failed)
I really like seeing how you use and apply colour so that it all fits so well together and makes for pieces that are sometimes striking and vibrant and sometimes softer and gentler and sometimes both in the same picture, depending on what the image calls for, and also how you play with the light. you can make things look so warm and vibrant and like clearly a sunny day even though there's no sun pictured in the painting, like, you can make them glow. and often I get a sense of what time of day it is too based on colour and shadow and atmosphere
also shading, which I've mentioned about your art many times and tbh I still think shading with watercolour is wizardry no matter what you say. you also have such skill with the detail you can get into these pieces, either with paint or with ink, and you get them to look so clean. ?????. I also don't understand how it did not take you literal years to do all these.
looking at your paintings of all the different places (all of your work actually I can't lie but the world paintings are what I've been looking at today) gives me a great sense of calm, and the brightly coloured and vibrant ones evoke a sort of... uh. lively calm. or maybe I just described happiness. anyway. your art makes me happy. there, i said it. jeez.
I was going to post this as is but couldn't do so without mentioning any specific pieces so I'm trying very hard to be decisive and concise but honestly i wanted to talk about every single one. I regret taking so long getting back here bc now I can't wax lyrical about each piece without this post becoming eight miles long.
SPOILER!!: somehow I kept it to 10
Republic of the Congo - I always love your pieces where you get so many colours into them, I won't ever deny it, but the way this one is just a few colours, one very bright, and framed through leaves which are also painted in a way I really enjoy looking at
Dominican Republic - what caught me here was the colours and light and shadows on the buildings for sURE, but also the trees in the background, with such a light touch, and those three main colours playing off of each other
Egypt - the colours in the sky grabbed me here for sure, but also the shadows behind and on those pyramids, and the texture of them, so so beautiful. I think that's a sunrise? you've captured it so well
Eswatini - the different colours in the trees work so well here, and the ink detailing where it appears. I kept going back to look at this one a lot, there's something about the style I find so appealing
France - I'm a huge fan of the way you do detailing especially in buildings but then you also do something like this and it is wicked enchanting, and such a pretty effect, the atmospheRE
Greece - the way you've got the reflections of colour and sunlight bouncing off the white is so pretty and very effective, and the whole thing is just super beautiful ugh
Iceland - ;; I say a lot about your use and application of colour so I'm not going to say it now, but it's heavily implied, but also this one made me feel things. it's a similar and yet in other ways very different vibe to what you do later with Norway, which also happens to make me feel things. it's the lonely looking buildings for me.
Israel - actually every piece in that same post caught my eye for similar reasons, this one especially cause it's that DOME that is just incredible, and the detailing in the building, I'm v taken by how you've painted the details just beneath the dome, but in all the pieces in that same grouping of paintings, your buildings are amazing. also stop incorporating light so well all the time, I keep wanting to talk about it
Namibia - I'm sorry I'm really trying to rein it in but what to heck this is incredible, there's the heat and the boldness of it that holds your attention but also the direction of the brush strokes have been used so effectively here, AND the contrast of it all, I. ugh.
Russia - your mastery of buildings *-* I feel like you might yell at me for calling it mastery but you should know I'll only say it again louder, the shapes you've captured here, and also I like it because of the way you've painted domes has evolved over time and in every single instance I am all kinds of impressed. I love love love the shadows on this one too
I am so sorry. no response to all that expected, i just really wanted to say it. you can smile and nod and focus on this next part instead:
looking at your art is such a treat and a comfort and brings a kind of serenity that I hope you also get from creating it. I'm mad at you for making me feel things though. also seeing how your style and skills have changed and progressed over time is so amazing and interesting and wicked cool. ugh. love it here. and you. I will not wait so long before posting again next time but even though I don't always have access to the words right away, I always always love to see what you've been working on
Hello, creeper. I wish I could comment on every single one of your lovely comments, but you got a little excessive, bud. I appreciate it, though, and it makes me feel all fuzzy. YOu know you were badly behaved, don't you? If you require TWO spoiler tags, it's really a comment on... something or other.
Anyway, thank you for your kind words. I go back to look at the things you noticed, and it's like I'm noticing them again too. I didn't know much about color stories or shading when I started, so I have to assume that I picked things up along the way. Definitely more to learn as I paint and paint and paint.
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa
I told you I wouldn't wait so long this time. I know I kNoW ;; but listen I... have no defence actually, so I'm just going to own it.
but now I can be (slightly) more reasonable.
it's wild how picking up things along the way often happens without really noticing it's happening, or actively seeking out to nail a technique other than by trying things. also it's so interesting to look at your earlier pieces and the recent ones to see how your entire approach has evolved. you really do paint and paint and paint (and paint and paint. I'm in awe).
you said something in a post about moving away from using the ink so much to do shading and texture and Samoa here is a good example of that. I like the effect of where it does come in, like in the greenery and those roofs (rooves??? roofs?????). speaking of, those building hats came out so good, with the texture and the shading and the form.
the colours in the first two here *-* and more painty shading too. Saint Kitts & Nevis is so vibrant and yet calm and peaceful (and not to be ariana on main but I really like that tree). the perspective in Saint Lucia is the light and shading is... unfair, I want to comment on it every time you post a thing. also, details in watercolours are the same level of witchcraft as shading as far as I'm concerned. you might have already mentioned it but how big is the paper you're working on?
I really just want to stick my face in the water of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. the colours... blend(? flow? I don't know painting words) together so well. also I don't know if I've mentioned it yet, I've said a lot of things about a lot of things, but the way you sometimes do the sky as like a piece of sky but in a way that successfully suggests an entire sky is really neat. It's very effective in Saint Kitts & Nevis also.
__________________
Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You?
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by Felixir
I told you I wouldn't wait so long this time. I know I kNoW ;; but listen I... have no defence actually, so I'm just going to own it.
but now I can be (slightly) more reasonable.
it's wild how picking up things along the way often happens without really noticing it's happening, or actively seeking out to nail a technique other than by trying things. also it's so interesting to look at your earlier pieces and the recent ones to see how your entire approach has evolved. you really do paint and paint and paint (and paint and paint. I'm in awe).
you said something in a post about moving away from using the ink so much to do shading and texture and Samoa here is a good example of that. I like the effect of where it does come in, like in the greenery and those roofs (rooves??? roofs?????). speaking of, those building hats came out so good, with the texture and the shading and the form.
the colours in the first two here *-* and more painty shading too. Saint Kitts & Nevis is so vibrant and yet calm and peaceful (and not to be ariana on main but I really like that tree). the perspective in Saint Lucia is the light and shading is... unfair, I want to comment on it every time you post a thing. also, details in watercolours are the same level of witchcraft as shading as far as I'm concerned. you might have already mentioned it but how big is the paper you're working on?
I really just want to stick my face in the water of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. the colours... blend(? flow? I don't know painting words) together so well. also I don't know if I've mentioned it yet, I've said a lot of things about a lot of things, but the way you sometimes do the sky as like a piece of sky but in a way that successfully suggests an entire sky is really neat. It's very effective in Saint Kitts & Nevis also.
I see you back in here again, and it makes my heart so warm. I might be having a bit of a cardiac event, so let's revisit that warm feeling later.
I really DO paint and paint and paint. It's helpful to have an end game (paint all the countries) or a sketchpad or something so you don't end up with a pile of slips of paper... although I have that too. But the organized way keeps things in order and helps you see development over time for sure.
I do have some shading on this one that I think you'll like, plus some trees for Ariana. And some sky pieces... I guess that's for you.
San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, and Senegal
doesn't proofread tweets | #wrongaboutcereal | #siriusly? | emo to the extremo
i can't believe how long it's been since I last came in here and wept publically !!! i'm very upset with myself!
this most recent set is SO colorful, i want to lick them!!!! but i won't because i would hate to ruin how perfect they are. they're so vibrant and full of life !! (is that gaudi's house? can we visit together pls)
__________________
Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You?
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArianaBlack
i can't believe how long it's been since I last came in here and wept publically !!! i'm very upset with myself!
this most recent set is SO colorful, i want to lick them!!!! but i won't because i would hate to ruin how perfect they are. they're so vibrant and full of life !! (is that gaudi's house? can we visit together pls)
I'm so glad you came by to SWAMP me in tears, my friend. Please don't lick anything... makes the colors run AND I can't imagine it's good for you. Anyway, potato, yes, that is Gaudi and yes, we can go together.
I could go insane in the membrane and accidentally on purpose comment on everything here in overwhelming detail. Like it's very tempting. But I will spare you this time.
I am gonna say I still love what you can do with light and shadow and colour, and still get a lot of fascination out of seeing how these progressed since the first one. and and and I especially love it when they are so clean and so bold and striking (and how you can get a sense of temperature bc of how you portray lighting and how you put down colour) and you have such a talent for portraying the beauty in all these places. i love your paintings okay. not sure if I'm making that clear.
special shoutout to the aurora borealis in sweden and to that water in tuvaru *-* I love them all though ern I really do
__________________
Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You?
doesn't proofread tweets | #wrongaboutcereal | #siriusly? | emo to the extremo
ern i can't believe our around the world trip with you is so soon to Z. i'm in constant awe of how you use color and how it does not all end up in one giant blob of brown. YOU ARE MAGIC with a paint brush as your wand. i swear it.
The colors in the ukraine ones are so especially bright and lovely. And the clouds in Turkey have so much depth. I would also be remiss not to point out how much i love the greeeeens in Trinidad & Tobogo.
__________________
Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You?
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by Felixir
I could go insane in the membrane and accidentally on purpose comment on everything here in overwhelming detail. Like it's very tempting. But I will spare you this time.
I am gonna say I still love what you can do with light and shadow and colour, and still get a lot of fascination out of seeing how these progressed since the first one. and and and I especially love it when they are so clean and so bold and striking (and how you can get a sense of temperature bc of how you portray lighting and how you put down colour) and you have such a talent for portraying the beauty in all these places. i love your paintings okay. not sure if I'm making that clear.
special shoutout to the aurora borealis in sweden and to that water in tuvaru *-* I love them all though ern I really do
Heeeeeey, friend. Thank you for coming back for a visit! There are definitely too many for comments on each one, but I appreciate the comments you DID leave <3 I agree that use of color can give you a feel for the lighting and climate and general TONE... I'm not doing that on purpose but sort of /stealing/ it from the references, but I'm learning as I go! I LOVE THAT YOU LOVE MY PAINTINGS OKAY?
And I really want to give that aurora borealis another go, maybe on higher quality paper so I can get more movement of the color in water. <3
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArianaBlack
ern i can't believe our around the world trip with you is so soon to Z. i'm in constant awe of how you use color and how it does not all end up in one giant blob of brown. YOU ARE MAGIC with a paint brush as your wand. i swear it.
The colors in the ukraine ones are so especially bright and lovely. And the clouds in Turkey have so much depth. I would also be remiss not to point out how much i love the greeeeens in Trinidad & Tobogo.
Hi, friendo. We can plan another trip after this one, okay? You pick the places we go. I bet we could make a blob of brown look CLASSY, though, so don't test me with complaints about brown.
I'm glad you like my GIANT EGG for the Ukraine, and my clouds... plus your greenery. Always your greenery.
***
United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl
I love these, Ern-la! I feel like your style has become so much more confident and easygoing. These would make beautiful greeting cards, y'know?
Thanks, Ro-wa! I definitely have learned a LOT along the way, even if it feels like I still have a long way to go. And look, I'm almost done with the world!
BTW, I actually have had some cards printed recently, as a fundraiser... it's stressful!
astronomizzle ♧ gryffinDORK | & the rest is drag ♣ #badluckDerf
Remember how way back in the day you were self conscious about perspective? Ern...ERN...LOOKITWHATYOUMADE!!!! I echo Ro's comment whole heartedly
I'm still waiting on my framed prints of everything, please and thank you.
I really really love what you did with the sky on your Vatican piece.
also...can we talk about YOUR USE OF NEGATIVE SPACE?! forever a fan
__________________
When you’re stuck in a moment and your spark has been stolen .................................................. ........... this is our time to own it, so own it..................................... baby we were born withfire and gold in our eyes
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie
Remember how way back in the day you were self conscious about perspective? Ern...ERN...LOOKITWHATYOUMADE!!!! I echo Ro's comment whole heartedly
I'm still waiting on my framed prints of everything, please and thank you.
I really really love what you did with the sky on your Vatican piece.
also...can we talk about YOUR USE OF NEGATIVE SPACE?! forever a fan
I'm STILL self conscious about it, but I'm happy with progress. I can look through everything and see lessons learned, for sure.
And I would gladly send you anything you want to frame. You know this already <3<3
And ALSO i am so happy I went to 'suggestion of sky' rather than trying to paint in sky in every picture. It makes it so much easier to balance and so much less 'landscape painting' and more 'scene study'.
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Hello, I wasn't sure if I should come back and keep posting things since I finished the whole world and all. But I'm still painting stuff and want a place to show people what I've been trying out.
And I guess if I end up talking to myself, no harm done.
SPOILER!!: snowy sky
So just for those who like to know how the sausage is made, this was made by applying paint to a straight edge and bleeding it up from the horizon with a wet wash. The sky had table salt applied to get that interesting texture. A tutorial, not an original work.
SPOILER!!: owl
Not a tutorial, but I did read a couple books by the artist Jean Haines to see how she did her 'atmospheric' effect. I might post a tutorial I did by her just so you can get a better idea of her work. I've wanted to try out an animal with the technique, and I think the owl lends itself well because the movement of the paint evokes movement in the wings.
astronomizzle ♧ gryffinDORK | & the rest is drag ♣ #badluckDerf
New year, new Ern Art
I am obsessed with these new techniques and that owl in particular is SO stunning. If you do end up going back and redoing some of your earlier countries, it would be fun to see you apply these new styles to the pieces (and I know SOMEONE who is a huge fan of your work with salt )
__________________
When you’re stuck in a moment and your spark has been stolen .................................................. ........... this is our time to own it, so own it..................................... baby we were born withfire and gold in our eyes
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie
New year, new Ern Art
I am obsessed with these new techniques and that owl in particular is SO stunning. If you do end up going back and redoing some of your earlier countries, it would be fun to see you apply these new styles to the pieces (and I know SOMEONE who is a huge fan of your work with salt )
Hiii, fren. Thank you for visiting! I haven't revisited any countries yet, although I DID continue with working through the US states. I'm in the Oregon right now.
In the month of June, I did some watercolor doodling pretty much every day, just to sort of open up those creative pathways. Those are pretty awful, but they were fun and let me get out of my head about using up good paper on experimenting.
But I thought I could post some abstract pieces I did in my sketchbook with watercolor and ink. These are really fun exercises in experimenting with color and finding shapes with the ink. I know they're a little weird, but they're fun.
SPOILER!!: 1
SPOILER!!: 2
Also, because I'm already here, I love turning scraps into bookmarks. Here are my latest two.
NOTE THAT IF ANYONE EVER WANTS A BOOKMARK, I'll MAIL YOU ONE. PM me.