First time posting...

[Frogcrazy]

Hello, Im new here, and am new to painting. For Christmas I received acrylic paints and canvasas, because I mentioned to my boyfriend that I would like to try my hand at painting. It has been the best gift ever, I am loving painting with acrylics.
I have been reading through the acrylic forums since January, but have been afraid to post my paintings, now I realize I need other artists eyes to help me see things especially since I am just beginning to paint
This painting was done on 11x14 canvas panel with Grumbacher paints, oh and I painted it from a Yarnell book (the painting is suppose to have an eagle in it, but I am afraid to paint it, I dont want to mess up the painting).

[Queen Bee]

This is a lovely painting. I wish my first attempts were that good.
You have done a great job. :clap: :clap: :clap:
I suggest if you would like to include the eagle, take a piece of thick paper or piece of matboard and practice doing the eagle on that. You could do it until you got it like you wanted or may decide to leave it out. It depends on if you are comfortable with it. IMHO I would love to see the eagle in the painting. I think it would add a little extra interest.

[muz]

You are new to painting?????? :eek: I don't know if we can believe that. For a first attempt, your painting is beautiful. I know the feeling of fear of posting. I also start around Christmas and found this wonderful forum about 2 weeks ago. The thing that gave me the motivation to post my paintings was an art teacher in the one and only course I've ever taken, who told us that there is no such thing as a bad painting. Every painting has something of the soul in it. And to judge colour on a page or canvas is like criticizing someone's essential nature... And as we are all different in our natures, so our paintings all carry a unique signature of your being... Too philosophical? :confused: Probably, but the idea helped me to put my fear aside and be proud that I even had the nerve to pick up a paint brush in the first place...

Keep it up. It's really rewarding and you obviously have a talent for texture and colour!

Murray

[Lady Carol]

Hey Frog :wave:
Yarnell has helped many to paint and clearly he has been successful with you.

The hardest post is the first and you are over that hurdle, so there are no excuses now :D As you see, we don't bite. As Murray said, there is no such thing as a bad painting. There may be paintings that are not to your taste but that is life. WC promotes an all comers are accepted. So make yourself at home and stop lurking. :wave:

It is lovely as is. I wouldn't add the eagle if you don't feel comfortable about. Frame it and keep it as your first attempt. In a couple of years you will see how far you have come. Maybe then you will attempt it again and add the eagle.

[jonesbf]

Welcome to the forum!

I too am a student of Yarnell and have been enjoying acrylics since 2001. His instructions are so easy to follow you have a good painting in no time, and before you know it you have learned some really great techniques to apply to your own subjects.

You've done excellent work for your first painting. I encourage you to continue with the book you are using now and even some of his others or his videos. Take a look at my web site to see how I have applied some of the techniques I learned from Yarnell to my own paintings and even mixed in some of my own style.

Keep posting your work here. If you have specific questions on how to achieve any of the techniques that are discussed in the book please let me know.

[Frogcrazy]

Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome! I am very glad I posted, and I promise to keep posting more, and not just lurking like I have been, lol.

Thanks Queen Bee for the suggestion of practicing on paper, I will attempt that first, and then maybe I will add the eagle. If not I will do what Lady Carol suggests, and just frame it.

Murry what you said really makes sense! Thank you for sharing your philosophy, it made me realize as long as I am happy with my painting, then that is all that matters!:)

Jonesbf I really enjoy painting with my Yarnell book, and I like the way he breaks the painting down step by step, that is very helpful. I will take a look at your site, I yearn to learn more about painting :)

[Rickyj]

I too, find it hard to believe this is your first attempt. It is done very well.

Welcome
Rick

[family2dyl]

Hey there Frogcrazy and welcome to the forum :wave:

You must have started painting at about the same time I did and yep, it's very addictive. Posting here for the first time was a difficult step for me too, but now I look back on it, despite my first painting being pretty awful, everyone here was very gentle with me. Believe me when I say your painting here is by far better than my first!!!

Don't stay away too long before you post your next painting either or it'll feel like your taking that first step over again. :D I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful creations.

[Frogcrazy]

Thank you Rickyj, it really was my first attempt, and I must be honest, I was shocked at the outcome! As I was painting the mountain, I thought ~Wow this really looks like a mountain, come to think of it, it looks like a painting!~ lol.
Hi there family2dyl! Thanks for the warm welcome! I love my new addiction, lol, and I cant seem to put the paintbrushes down.

[Leslie Pz]

Keep it up! You clearly have started a craft you are good at, immediately. This piece is nice, amazing for first! Can't wait to see more!
-Les