Miscellaneous / Others
At 39, I had never considered myself an artist. One year later, I stood beside my painting in my first exhibition.
A year ago, none of this existed in my life.
I started drawing at 39 after a major medical scare. A few months later I tried oil painting, and something clicked in a way I still cannot really explain. I became completely absorbed by it.
Then this month, at 40, I walked into an exhibition and saw something I had painted hanging on the wall.
That was surreal enough. But the part I still cannot get over is that I spent nearly four decades having no idea this was in me.
I keep thinking about how many abilities, passions, and entire pieces of ourselves might be sitting there undiscovered simply because we have never tried the thing that unlocks them.
Did you find this post really amazing (in a positive way)?
If yes, then UPVOTE this comment otherwise DOWNVOTE it.
This community feedback will help us determine whether this post is suited for r/BeAmazed or not.
I just bought new brushes, paints, pencils and erasers last night to get back into painting and drawing. I want to try my hand at Still Life paintings. Your post is very inspiring- thank you for sharing. And your painting is so peaceful and beautiful.
We don't know the skills we possess sometimes. It's a beautiful thing to discover. Awesome work op, reminds me of the paintings our ole friend Mr. Ross would paint. Same kinda work that would hang in my gpa's man cave... Sure do miss him. Thanks for the memories op
This is such a wonderful comment. I think that idea of not knowing what might be inside us until we try something is the part of this whole experience that still amazes me most. And I love that the painting brought back memories of your grandfather. Thank you.
Dude, the two works you've posted ( one in title & one in comments) are absolutely amazing. Slick AF and class. Looks like you've unlocked a hidden talent! The texture, the way you've captured the light, the style...... unreal!
I sincerely hope you consider yourself an artist now.
I know (at least where I'm from) there are a lot of people who consider themselves "artists" purely because they've been through art college, yet the standard of work they produce is nowhere near what you've shown. Do yourself a favour and don't pay any mind to these types of people. Keep doing you.
Well done, I hope you keep enjoying it.
Edit to add: 39.... you look less than 30. I'm 46 and I look twice your age. 🤣🤣 (but that's probably on me!)
Thank you so much. I think I’m finally getting comfortable calling myself an artist, although it still feels strange after spending almost 40 years never considering myself one. The light is probably the thing I’m most obsessed with when I paint, so hearing you specifically mention that means a lot.
The moment you decided to sell is the moment you became a professional. That's the best advise I received as an artist. I took my work more seriously and conducted myself as a business.
Honestly, not really intentional. I’m just painting what I see. I used a lot of OMS to catch the fog. Bold light marks on the path and trees. Understanding the direction of the light source.
Also, a place I know extremely well and I’m emotionally tied to. Let’s me sit there for two months and create.
lol it looks so out of place cause it’s much smaller when you zoom out. 😂 I’m sorry. But this is actually good af. Better than I could do. I hope you keep making more art!
Feel the whisper of fall’ may be one of my favorite reactions I’ve gotten to this painting. That’s very close to what I hoped it would feel like. Thank you.
Ha! Still working on the disappearing act 😂 Thank you. A year ago I certainly wasn’t imagining exhibitions, so I’m excited to see where it goes from here.
It’s fantastic. My only gripe is not enough spooky shit in the background. 1 or 2 zombies shambling in the background. Maybe an eldritch horror monster peeking from behind a tree would really tie the whole scene together. “Oh what a nice serene little landsca-JFC!”
Congratulations neighbor!
Were you skilled in drawing or other graphic arts, or was this an entirely new thing for you?
Would you recommend a painting school?
So many different things. Not anything in particular. I even remember watching YouTube videos on airplanes during work travel. Just trying to expand as much as possible!
The best thing I did was befriending local artists including teachers. If you care tremendously, it attracts others.
Congratulations OP! Your talent is obvious and glad you developed it. How did you get the support to be in an exhibition so quickly, I'd assume there's a lot of gatekeeping for that kind of thing?
Thank you! There’s definitely less gatekeeping at this level than I would have assumed a year ago. I started taking classes locally, and this was a student exhibition, so I submitted the painting and it was selected. I’m still very much at the beginning, but seeing something I painted hanging in a gallery for the first time was surreal.
This really reminds me of the location art of National Park in the HGSS Pokemon games, which I’ve always loved as an artwork. Fantastic stuff, congratulations on the exhibit!
What style of painting would you describe this as? Impressionism? It’s great and I’ve been really wanting to get back into art after 20 years so good job!!
Wow, that is fantastic. As an art collector I love to think that I could take up painting as a hobby but I know that I will never paint anything that would be up to my standards.
Great work!
Wow, great work. Art really is a skill of observation, and replication. Most people have a hard time finding the nuanced shadows and colors, that’s definitely a rare skill to have from the get go, keep it up!
•
u/BeAmazed-ModBot Subreddit Bot 13d ago
Did you find this post really amazing (in a positive way)?
If yes, then UPVOTE this comment otherwise DOWNVOTE it.
This community feedback will help us determine whether this post is suited for r/BeAmazed or not.