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| The King |
Finally put the last touches and a coat of retouching varnish on Smokey's portrait. I was really happy to finish and get ready for something different. The practice I got painting the fur was invaluable, also working out the colors for the fabric, and getting the "old paint" look in the background.
I've started work on a new small seascape and I can tell that I learned a lot on The King in handling the paint and understanding how I want the painting to look when I'm done. This reinforces my belief that the only way to get good at anything is to do it, as much as you can, as often as you can, and to explore every aspect of it that interests you. I've read plenty of books and watched videos, and I've learned many things from them, but until I pick up a brush and try something, it doesn't—it can't—make any difference in my work.
Sometimes a difference in the type of brush, or how you're holding it, or the consistency of the paint, or if you're using a medium or not, can make a huge difference in your results. The risks you're willing to take, trying a new approach or a subject you have no experience with, can open up new opportunities you'd never thought of.
But whatever you do, keep painting!
