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Messy Art Squad
265
5.0
$9/m
22 contributions to Messy Art Squad
Apr 11 •
Drop your finished or unfinished work. We’ll be real with you.
Drop your work, get honest feedback from the community (Be kind ;)
0 likes • Jul 15
@Kathryn Smith hi Kathryn - I really like this! It's got real energy. I think you've got a knack for this type of approach - which is probably why you're drawn to it. Keep up your practise with this style, it's terrific, very distinctive. My little tip for portraits from what I've learned - it's all about the eyes. If you get that balance and gaze, with some catchlight in the eye, it's all good. This little kitty is lovely! Xx
3 likes • Aug 15
Evening All. I've been offline for a bit due to a serious vet emergency with my darling cat. The good news is that after a very difficult few weeks he has pulled through. When I thought he might die, I was utterly devastated. I had no emotional capacity to paint, or engage with anyone. But the amazing team at the animal hospital have saved him! As he has improved I have started to feel more and more like painting again. And it is strong medicine for all the stress and worry. He also loves to watch me paint - so I think today's project has been good for him too. Whenever I'm reminded of how emotional the business of painting and drawing is for me, I'm always surprised. It would be interesting to hear if emotional state affects other artists here - and how.
Apr 21 •
Challenge! Show Up & Create
Most artists don’t fail because of talent. They disappear. So let’s fix that. New challenge: Show Up & Create → 3x per week→ for 30 days→ post whatever you made (finished or messy) Rules: - No perfection - No overthinking - Just proof you showed up - Miss a day? Don’t quit. Just continue. This is about becoming someone who creates. Not someone who waits. I’m in too. Who’s joining?
0 likes • Jul 1
@Valérie Van Kraaij thank you so much x
4 likes • Jul 15
I was struck by the light on Monday evening, when we had the first rain in weeks. It came in during sunset to make the most beautiful rainbow display. Here's the reference photo and pastel painting to compare......
May 29 •
inspiration/ reference
Where do you find your inspiration? Or references? Do you use photo’s? From websites? Or do you shoot your own? Don’t use references at all? just look outside? Read books? Poetry?
3 likes • Jul 15
I've spent my whole life (since I was 6) pursuing photography. Now that I draw and paint, I always work from a reference photo. Even with portrait commissions, where the photo is someone else's, I always fiddle with the composition, exposure, contrast and other values to get it right to work from. I never realised how much my photographic process and eye would matter to my drawing and painting. And now I'm photographing specifically to then paint the image. It all feels like one big expression of how I see things. I suppose that makes sense, but it's been a real surprise!
May 25 •
Help Each Other by Engaging on Instagram
Hi there! 😊 As an artist with a small Instagram account, I’ve found it really lovely to have a group of supportive and engaging followers. I’ve even noticed that strangers, mostly other artists, sometimes cheer louder than friends and family 🤪 Personally, my goal right now isn’t to grow a huge following (my profile has actually been private for a while), but I do really enjoy meaningful engagement and supporting others as well 😊 That’s why I’d love to invite you to drop your Instagram (name or link) below so we can follow each other, engage, and support one another 😊🙌 Mine is https://www.instagram.com/lizaglorius.art?igsh=MW5qZWk4eG1xNDlxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
4 likes • Jun 2
Mine is https://www.instagram.com/myartandeye100?igsh=OTlvdWhsd3IyYTBr&utm_source=qr
1 like • Jul 3
@Adriane Tsai gave you a follow on inst 👍
Jun 2 •
June Challenge! 🌙 Paint Your Wildest Dream
This month we’re leaving reality behind. Flying whales? Purple apples floating through space? A café on the moon? Perfect. If you can dream it, you can paint it. Post your entries below and let’s see where our imaginations take us. 🚀🎨✨ How it works 🎨 Create as many artworks as you like throughout the month. 📸 Post your entries in the comments below this challenge. 🎭 Any medium is welcome: - Oil - Acrylic - Watercolor - Pastel - Mixed media - Digital art - Sketches 💡 Feel free to experiment, be weird, be poetic, be playful. Challenge Rules 1. All artwork must be created by you 2. You can enter as many pieces as you want. 3. Tell us a little about the dream or idea behind your artwork (optional but encouraged). 4. Have fun and encourage fellow artists along the way. 5. Invite friends that would enjoy this too. 6. Dateline 30 June. At the End of the Month 🏆 We’ll choose: 🥇 Dream Master Award 🥈 Most Original Dream 🥉 Community Favorite No prizes. Just glory, bragging rights, and a spotlight in the community. 😄 Your First Prompt Before you start painting, answer this: If there were no limits, what would your dream world look like? Now grab your brushes and start dreaming. 🌙✨
1 like • Jul 1
My vote is for @Renata Loos whose words and images together conjured up her dream so richly. They are all wonderful, but that one really got to me.
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@emma-andrews-2017
I'm a charcoal and pastel artist from Devon, in the UK. I love to draw and paint with them, despite the mess and risk to my apartment's decor!!
Active 41d ago
Joined Apr 16, 2026