Picked up a paintbrush after 15 months

[gajuseidi]

It's been a while since the last time I painted.

Fiverr among other projects has kept me busy, which is good as I have less time to be lost in my thoughts. But sometimes I feel like I can't hold everything in and have to express my thoughts, feelings or ideas through painting. Both my mental and physical health has improved this year, but I know that there's still a long way to go.

I recently painted a self-portrait and I wanted to share it with you. For me, this portrait is a step towards healing - acknowledging my own state of mind and portraying myself how I truly see it. The painting has no title and is entirely up to interpretation. I would be curious to know what you see.

If you have any artworks that you've done recently or any passion projects that you've been working on, feel free to share them here, I'd love to see your work as well.

[mandyzines]

That's lovely! 🤩 I think that spending time alone, in silence, without a screen in front of you, and either reading or doing activities like this is tremendously beneficial to mental health.

I've been immersed in everything involved with freelancing and lacking the discipline to unplug myself. Somehow, my garden still looks great. Thank you for reminding me that I need to get out there today. Whether or not I will, might be another story.

[theratypist]

It looks awesome! I love the details and the texture (if that makes sense). Down the line you might even enjoy it through a gig! Hehe 🙂

[lenasemenkova]

It looks amazing, especially the eyes. You should consider putting up a gig for something like this (or not, trying to sell passion projects can kill that passion pretty quickly). You’re very talented.

It’s nothing fancy but I’ve been making this.

My ophthalmologist is going to kill me if she ever finds out. It’s the worst hobby you can get with deteriorating eyesight *but* it’s great stress relief. Putting these tiny pieces together to get a bigger picture eventually is very calming. 

I collect medieval depictions of suns with faces. They always look so disappointed/unimpressed. It’s just funny to me. I figured I’d make my own to add to the collection. I had to censor what it’s saying, it’s a naughty sun. 

[newsmike]

5 hours ago, gajuseidi said:

It's been a while since the last time I painted.

Fiverr among other projects has kept me busy, which is good as I have less time to be lost in my thoughts. But sometimes I feel like I can't hold everything in and have to express my thoughts, feelings or ideas through painting. Both my mental and physical health has improved this year, but I know that there's still a long way to go.

I recently painted a self-portrait and I wanted to share it with you. For me, this portrait is a step towards healing - acknowledging my own state of mind and portraying myself how I truly see it. The painting has no title and is entirely up to interpretation. I would be curious to know what you see.

If you have any artworks that you've done recently or any passion projects that you've been working on, feel free to share them here, I'd love to see your work as well.

You are very talented.  What is the psychological significance of eyes wide open, yet no pupils, meaning blind? 

[zeus777]

DAAAAHNG that's amazing!!!!

The texture and the way you painted your hair is incredible.
I am planning on making a gingerbread house display (mom's request) so once that's done I think I'll post a pic 😄

[mihimaldesign]

Actually looks great. You are very talented.  

[aarontgladiator]

THOSE ARE FREAKING FANTASTIC! I absolutely SUCK at drawing, but I have been proud of my drawing skills more than once, so here it goes (Most of these were school projects from super long ago):

[alphagev]

Your art looks amazing, you're very talented.
I'm glad to know there is an ongoing healing process. Spending time doing what we love is surely a way to balance our minds.
On detail of your portrait make me wonder: the foggy eyes, as newsmike said, that are almost blind. Are they expressing your current status? i.e. you still can't see clearly but there is hope.

Here's something I've finished a couple of days ago. It's one of the methods I use to sink into myself in a sort of meditative status.

[leannelrivers]

That's great! Thanks for sharing. I wish I could draw and paint well. 

[Guest afrojaahmed]

Thankyou for sharing, that's really amazing, you are very talented person. I wish you best of luck.

[gajuseidi]

23 hours ago, mandyzines said:

That's lovely! 🤩 I think that spending time alone, in silence, without a screen in front of you, and either reading or doing activities like this is tremendously beneficial to mental health.

Thank you, Mandy. I couldn't agree with you more. There needs to be a balance between work and time for oneself. It's hard to strike such balance, but I try to remind myself every once in a while that I should take the time to do what I enjoy.

On 12/11/2021 at 9:41 PM, mandyzines said:

I've been immersed in everything involved with freelancing and lacking the discipline to unplug myself. Somehow, my garden still looks great. Thank you for reminding me that I need to get out there today. Whether or not I will, might be another story.

In the beginning it's difficult to draw the boundaries around your work hours, but you'll find your rhythm. Seems like those pesky pigs that used to feed on your garden found something else to munch on. 😄

23 hours ago, theratypist said:

It looks awesome! I love the details and the texture (if that makes sense). Down the line you might even enjoy it through a gig! Hehe 🙂

Thank you ❤️ I do have some ideas for a portrait gig in the future. 😊

18 hours ago, lenasemenkova said:

It looks amazing, especially the eyes. You should consider putting up a gig for something like this (or not, trying to sell passion projects can kill that passion pretty quickly). You’re very talented.

Thank you, Lena. It's an honor to hear it from such an accomplished artist as yourself. I might make a portrait gig in the future, but if I do it, I think it'll be best to restrict my offer as much as I can. No family portraits or couple portraits, only single person portraits. This way I can delve deeper into the person's character and have the most authentic result.

18 hours ago, lenasemenkova said:

It’s nothing fancy but I’ve been making this.

My ophthalmologist is going to kill me if she ever finds out. It’s the worst hobby you can get with deteriorating eyesight *but* it’s great stress relief. Putting these tiny pieces together to get a bigger picture eventually is very calming. 

I collect medieval depictions of suns with faces. They always look so disappointed/unimpressed. It’s just funny to me. I figured I’d make my own to add to the collection. I had to censor what it’s saying, it’s a naughty sun. 

I love it! I could immediately tell that this sun is from Middle Ages, you got the facial features just right. One of my fears is losing my eyesight, but somehow I doubt that it would stop me from creating. It's great that you have a hobby that gives you relief and the results are nothing short of beautiful 😊

Now you got me intrigued to know what the sun is saying 😄

19 hours ago, newsmike said:

You are very talented.  What is the psychological significance of eyes wide open, yet no pupils, meaning blind? 

Thank you, Mike, I appreciate your kind words.

Eyes tell us a lot about the state of mind, feelings or thoughts of a person. They are projectors as well receivers of information.

In the painting the eyes have no pupils or irises, they are not looking and not seeing even though they are open. They give us a sense of unease and discomfort as they do not convey information that we would receive otherwise and make it difficult to connect with the person in the painting. They leave us guessing and not knowing how to act, feel or what to say as they don't look normal and we're not used to it.

There are personal reasons why I chose to portray myself that way, but I'll leave the interpretation to the viewer.

19 hours ago, zeus777 said:

DAAAAHNG that's amazing!!!!

The texture and the way you painted your hair is incredible.

Thank you, Zeus!

19 hours ago, zeus777 said:

I am planning on making a gingerbread house display (mom's request) so once that's done I think I'll post a pic 😄

I'd love to see your ginger house, please do! 😄

13 hours ago, aarontgladiator said:

This Optimus Prime is definitely ready to kick some a**!😄 Your drawings are awesome, they remind me of my own drawings of cartoon or movie characters that I used to do in my teenage years.

9 hours ago, alphagev said:

Your art looks amazing, you're very talented.
I'm glad to know there is an ongoing healing process. Spending time doing what we love is surely a way to balance our minds.
On detail of your portrait make me wonder: the foggy eyes, as newsmike said, that are almost blind. Are they expressing your current status? i.e. you still can't see clearly but there is hope.

Thank you, @alphagev, I appreciate it.

I did this painting when I had a few rougher days and felt like I had to create. My mental health is still not as strong as I would like it to be, but there are a lot more better days than before so I count that as a win.

9 hours ago, alphagev said:

Here's something I've finished a couple of days ago. It's one of the methods I use to sink into myself in a sort of meditative status.

Looks great! You're really good at intricate details that require a lot of patience. You could definitely offer authentic mandala designs or something of that sort as your gig. 😉

8 hours ago, leannelrivers said:

That's great! Thanks for sharing. I wish I could draw and paint well. 

Thank you, Leanne. You definitely have your strengths as well 😊

[gajuseidi]

2 hours ago, afrojaahmed said:

Thankyou for sharing, that's really amazing, you are very talented person. I wish you best of luck.

Appreciate your kind words, thank you.

[mandyzines]

12 hours ago, alphagev said:

Your art looks amazing, you're very talented.
I'm glad to know there is an ongoing healing process. Spending time doing what we love is surely a way to balance our minds.
On detail of your portrait make me wonder: the foggy eyes, as newsmike said, that are almost blind. Are they expressing your current status? i.e. you still can't see clearly but there is hope.

Here's something I've finished a couple of days ago. It's one of the methods I use to sink into myself in a sort of meditative status.

I would definitely put that on my wall, bed, or couch. 

[zeus777]

So I got an order from a returning buyer and he asked me to draw him, his wife, and two dogs in "A Christmas Story" setting.
(BTW I have NOT seen the movie, do tell me if I am missing out...)

I just delivered the order. I'm quite happy with how it came out! 😄
I'm guessing a good number of you guys are getting Christmas orders too?

[zeus777]

5 hours ago, atikul1999 said:

Thankyou for sharing, that's really amazing, you are very talented person. I 

Uhhhh,

why are you copy/pasting someone's reply up there??

[gajuseidi]

7 hours ago, zeus777 said:

I just delivered the order. I'm quite happy with how it came out!

You should, it looks awesome! 😊

7 hours ago, zeus777 said:

I'm guessing a good number of you guys are getting Christmas orders too?

Yeah, been editing a lot of photos with Christmas trees in the background 😄

[lenasemenkova]

I’ve meant to comment and forgot. 

I’m always so impressed with people who can do self-expression for therapeutic purposes. Truly, I mean.

Whenever a therapist suggests it, I always just go: “I’m not doing arts and crafts, I’m not 10”. If you can channel it right and tap into things inside your head *and* get the end result that looks great, it’s just awesome. 

Also, thank you for the comments about my work, you’re too kind. 

On 12/12/2021 at 11:53 PM, gajuseidi said:

No family portraits or couple portraits

Good call. Don’t do family portraits. Ever. EVER. They’ll be sending you reference photos of their children, blurry and in near darkness, then complain that “it doesn’t look like my darling son”. They’ll argue that they’re “not that fat”, that their hairline is “not that high”, that their nose is “not that big”. They’ll slap a sepia filter on everything, then get upset that you can’t get their skin tone right. It’s a nightmare. And a comedy. But mostly a nightmare.