I like it.

Really cool setting!

I wasn't sure, it does look real. But the painting is still nice.

I think we all appreciate seeing your work, especially after not seeing it for quite a while.

The palette knife is freeing, isn't it? I don't often use it on its own, but I like to combine it with brushwork. It reminds me of paint's lushness and possibilities, and it looks like it does the same for you.

So worried about coming across as “look at me.” But on the other hand there is that internal drive I think we all have, wishing we could show people what we are up to.

I’ve had some cyberbullying going on and part of me worries the bullies are making fun of my paintings behind my back, which has made me hesitant to post. But my husband says, people who do that aren’t very good people, so who cares what they think, let them be like that! And that made sense to me.

So I might make my Pinterest page public again, etc.

Thank you for being so kind to me, I appreciate it. 😍

I’m really attracted to using a palette knife but it seems so easy that I worry it’s not “real painting” or something.

It does use up more paint, using a palette knife, but I mostly paint very small works so maybe it’s not that big of a deal. I did notice one painter I watch sometimes on YouTube, from Montana, does only large palette knife paintings and he uses student grade paint which I’m sure is more economical for palette knife painting, and I wonder if that’s what most artists use for palette knife paintings.

What a horrible thing to experience.

I'm sure you know this on one level, but truly, palette knife painting is as real and legitimate as painting with brushes, squeegees, Q-tips, or anything else an artist uses to apply the paint. Like any tool, the quality of the work depends on how it's used. You might enjoy looking at Mia Bergeron's work, since she frequently uses a palette knife: https://www.instagram.com/miabergeron/p/C3qON2mpoyQ/?img_index=1

Later today--maybe this evening?--I'll post one of my recent landscape paintings so you can see how I use a palette knife in conjunction with brushes.

Edited to add: here's a more recent palette knife painting by Mia Bergeron. Scroll through for progress shots. https://www.instagram.com/p/C-vQVVKpl5j/?img_index=1

But I sure appreciate those with talent.

Please keep posting your work!

You handle the knife well, and I'm intrigued by the coloration of the piece, not the standard green on green but not unrealistic either, great job!

And nice use of technique.

Imaginative, nice use of colors. Looks great against the dark wall.

I love the loose style that still defines an image. Your use of color is beautiful. And, you don’t post too much at all!

I'm also a painter. I am contemplating paying for that Smartist app. It seems expensive as its not a one time payment, but a subscription style.

It ends up being about the cost of a nice dinner out for one person that way.

It is an extra expense and kind of frivolous, I know, but it lifts my spirits so much and encourages me to see my art hanging on a wall in a sense.

I’m amazed at how many interiors there are, and you can make the walls any color you wish, and they have some simple basic frames you can make any color and size you wish. I do wish they had some ornate frames too.

They seem to be adding dozens of new interiors every month too. I’m pretty astounded by the app. It has editing features in it too which I dint use, and it allows you to make your art any size you wish, which I do use pretty much every time. For example, this painting I just posted is actually only 5 X 7 inches.

If you have a fair amount of disposable income, I would say it would be worth trying it for one month, and if you like it a great deal, pay for a yearly subscription for the cheapest option. It’s easy to cancel these subscriptions in apps if you don’t like it.

For me, whenever I do a painting, I feel immediate discouragement. I look at it and think, oh that’s not good enough. I feel deflated. But when I take a photo of my painting and then put it in a fake interior using this app, I like my painting better and I feel good instead of bad. I say to myself, “Well, that’s not so bad, it looks kind of nice on that wall, maybe it’s okay.” For me, the yearly subscription fee is worth it for the psychological lift it gives me.

Other artists use it to help sell their art on-line. I can see where it might be effective for that.

Now I sound like I work for the company, LOL, I swear I don’t!

Maybe I'll give the trial a try.

Happy painting.

What a beautiful setting!