Still Painting, Still Learning

It's been a while since I've written anything about painting. Not because I haven't been working on it. On the contrary. I'm trying my best, but let me say that I think "my best" could be improved a lot.

Oil paint and I, let's say that I feel a bit like I have to learn to ride a unicycle with my eyes closed. It's not going the way it should, and I think I'm doing a lot of things wrong because I don't know how to do it, and maybe also because I don't have the right tools. In any case, it's not going the way it should, in my opinion. So at the moment, everything still feels awkward and confusing. It's not that I'm not trying, you can tell by this cute little dog. Yes, you can at least see that it's a dog. But the dog is certainly not on the canvas the way I would like it to be.

The battle with my perfectionism

One of the biggest challenges in this project (and in my life, if I'm honest) is my perfectionism. I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this, but seriously, I'm just getting tired of that inner critic who's constantly watching me. And if that's not enough, that critic in me is seriously never satisfied. And that makes me insecure, which makes me wonder even more what I'm doing wrong. Why can someone else achieve hyperrealism with oil paint? I know it must be possible, and that it has a lot to do with materials and techniques. Only I haven't discovered it yet. This painting of the dog is the perfect example of that. I constantly see everything that could be better. The texture of the fur, the depth in the eyes, the shadows that aren't quite right. Sometimes it bothers me so much that I block and don't even know how to continue.

My partner, as a true optimist, tries to reassure me. "It's going to be beautiful," he says. And believe me, I'm grateful for his enthusiasm, but at the same time, I have that little voice in my head screaming: "Look at this! Can't you see that? It's a mess!" Okay, maybe a bit dramatic, but that's how it feels sometimes. On the one hand, this perfectionism pushes me to be better and to challenge myself. On the other hand, it can also completely block me. Sometimes I'll stare at the canvas for minutes, brush in hand, with no idea how to proceed.

Where's the hyperrealism?

Let's talk about hyperrealism for a moment, my big goal for this little painting. I want the dog to look like it could jump off the canvas at any moment and give me a paw. But right now it looks more like it's gotten caught in a spider web and doesn't know how to get out. Hyperrealism sounds so simple, you just paint what you see, right? But every time I try, it feels like I’m painting a different version of reality.

To be honest, that’s what has always fascinated me about hyperrealistic work. It’s a kind of magical illusion like you can capture reality with a brush. But now that I’m trying to reach that level myself, I realize how much craftsmanship and experience goes into it. Of course, I know that you can’t learn to paint hyperrealistically in a day, or even a month. The layers of paint, the play of light and shadow, and the subtle nuances of color that make the difference between a vivid image and a flat, lifeless copy. It’s a huge challenge. It’s a journey that takes time, will involve a lot of trial and error, and will certainly cost me a fair amount of frustration and despair. Right now, I’m at the beginning of this journey with oil paint. I’ve only just started, and I’m certainly not satisfied. But I don’t want to give up. That quest to achieve hyperrealism keeps pulling me.

Tips, anyone?

Now I've reached the point where I want to enlist the help of the Hive art community. At the moment, oil painting feels to me a bit like being a novice chef who has been dumped in the kitchen of a Michelin restaurant and has to conjure up a Michelin-level meal. I know I'm probably missing some techniques and materials, or maybe I need a different approach. I don't know... But I would be very grateful if you have any tips for working with oil paint, to achieve hyperrealism.

Perhaps tips on dealing with perfectionism would also be very useful because that is also a big stumbling block for me. All tips are welcome! For example, how do you get that super realistic texture in the fur? How do you make the eyes speak without looking like a clown? And most importantly: how do you stay motivated when you feel stuck?

Oil paint is a fascinating medium, and even though I am not yet satisfied with where I am now, I do not want to give up. Every brushstroke is a learning process, every "mistake" is a chance to discover something new. But I would be lying if I said I could not use a little help to move forward.

So, if anyone happens to have the magic key to unraveling the mystery of working with oil paint, leave a comment. I will be eternally grateful. Hopefully, I will eventually find the perfect way to bring that cute little dog to life.