This is my second painting. I used Dracula’s tutorial to create the Z trees. They looked much better before I highlighted them. I regret highlighting them. I was able to get snow to break on the mountain for the first time by using light snows painting mountain tutorial. I think I let the paint dry too much in the cardboard. It was very clumpy and would come off the knife and onto the mountain as a big chunk instead properly breaking. Again on this second painting, it seems absolutely impossible to get bushes to lace properly. It seems as though I’m using a much more watered down paint than bob is using. It literally just smudges everywhere and creates a huge disorganized mess with zero depth, incredibly frustrating. There isn’t a single part of this finished painting that I’m proud of. I did not enjoy painting today and am left feeling ashamed and defeated.
Voy, I’ve watched hundreds of episodes of Bob Ross intently. My first painting was grandeur of summer. I appreciate you.
Oops, my mistake! I almost daily watch a Bob Ross since that does help me with learning his tricks and techniques by heart.
Maybe you need to change materials? Not sure what you are using. Bob does promote firm paint and hog haired bristles, yet that's everybody's own choice according to painting comfort and/or budget.
I wish you good luck and plenty of practice passion!
BTW, 'Bull' is one of my favourite tv shows! Pity we only had three seasons broadcasted so far in my country.
I’m using Bob Ross brand paint and brushes
Hmm, so that is good material, no worries!
Hope the community can further help you out here, should be no problem!
@jasonarebull: Don't loose your heart. We all go through mix of happy moments and frustration sometimes. Happy moments when something works out well worth millions. You'll get where you want with more practice when you start feeling your materials better.
Check this video: https://youtu.be/7ZXz1Njc3nw
It seems because you got frustrated with bushes you started pushing real hard that liquid white. This is no-no. ( I did this too, and then I had to wipe half of the painting to restart :)
Jason when u are doing ur highlights what are u using?? Meaning... liquid white with paint or paint thinner to thin the paint down.?? I had the same problem in many of my paintings. I was using too much paint thinner or liquid white. Also I used too much pressure to apply the highlights and it would smooch. It is a technique issue not a paint issue. 8t takes lots of practice. Dont give up. Something happened to many of us
Sunny lady thank you for the video tutorial, I hope this will help.
JD, I’m dabbing the brush into liquid white and then running it through the titanium white just like bob does in the tutorial video winter glory. I also used many varying levels of pressure as I created all of my bushes yet they all look equally bad. Thank you for the kind words
All I can add is that if you have a too heavy base layer of liquid white on your canvas before you start, it can cause exactly this problem, so that is something to watch out for. Your first layer of liquid white should be very very thin, hardly there at all. You say you are using cardboard, I've no experience of working with cardboard so I have no idea what it requires. It does look like you have a lot of paint on your brush, the more paint you have on the brush the less pressure you need. Don't try to slap it on like Bob does, take your time. Don't get downhearted jason, it's only your second painting and we've all been there. Truth is, I felt that my first few paintings were so bad I didn't even upload them here. I really didn't think I could do it and I felt like throwing my brushes out of the window but I'm glad that I didn't. Patience and practice jason, that's all. You will do better next time, and soon you will really enjoy painting. Good luck.
The landscape painter is right. The base could be a problem too. Very little. If not sure wipe it with a paper towel then do the fingerprint test. Touch it and if it looks like u could see ur prints then is good. If ur finger is completely white it is too much. Now Bob Ross has a 3 hour tutorial that he says that in the show it looks like he is slapping the paint on because he has to make the 30 minute deadline, but in reality it is a delicate touch. I had the same problems. Overcame those to then find others lol
Thank you guys, I will have to do the finger test and see how much liquid white I am putting on. That could be the issue
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Two things might help you out Jason. One is to view several tutorials by Bob, Steve and Dana and specially watch Bob's 'Grandeur of summer', which is a one hour episode from Bob on Youtube.
Second is .... to remain painting and posting! Everybody learns something here every day!