5 ms·

> Most importantly, don’t do it for money Them's fightin' words, around here... I used to be a musician (a fairly good bass player[0] -Don't laugh. That hair

> Most importantly, don’t do it for money Them's fightin' words, around here... I used to be a musician (a fairly good bass player[0] -Don't laugh. That hair was the height of fashion, at the time). I used to be an artist (a fairly good one[1]). I ended up sidelining both of them for writing software. I don't really regret that, but writing software for other people really sucked. Sucked like a galaxy-core, supermassive black hole. I worked for a company that took Quality seriously, so I didn't have to deal with the internal shame of deliberately releasing crap software. I probably would have gone nuts, if that had been the case, and no amount of money would have fixed it. I now write the software that I want to write, on my terms. It's a joy. I have to keep the scope pretty humble, but I have been having the time of my life. [0] https://cmarshall.com/MulletMan.jpg https://cmarshall.com/MulletMan.jpg [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40917886 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40917886

bollu 2y ago
How'd you recommend I learnt to paint? I've not really done much painting in my life at all, and I'd love a breakdown.
- ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
  Well, sketching (constantly practicing, by drawing) is extremely important. It helps to coordinate the eye and the hand. It starts with being able to accurately and dispassionately render what I see, on paper. From there, I am able to modify the process, so the visual source, is in my head, as opposed to in front of my eyes. Artists like Picasso and Pollock were actually very good realist artists, but their expression came from their interpretation of their own vision. In my experience, there’s no shortcuts. I have to be able crawl, then walk, before I can run. Just like software development. In my case, hiring a teacher, who, right off the bat, told me I was screwing up, was also necessary.
  - froh 2y ago
    > there’s no shortcuts. I have to be able crawl, then walk, before I can run. yes, so much this! my.fad, also a passionate artist, hated how they thinned out technical crafts foundations from arts college. "no more stupid copying and banale Line and color practice! freedum!" the college went. my dad just said (translation follows) @> Kunst kommt von können. Wenn es von wollen käme hieße es Wunst und wir wären Wünstler. art comes from artistry. if it was based on "wanting" we'd call it "want" and we (artists) were "wantists" or "wished" and "wishedits" along these lines he'd learned sketching from herding small livestock, goats, geese, chicken and sketching them, as a kid...
- progmetaldev 2y ago
  ChrisMarshallNY gave you the true answer, as far as creating the type of art that he's made (which I find amazing) and mastering painting. Another way to go about it (which I did at the start of the pandemic) is to just buy some canvases and acrylic paint (more forgiving than oil since you haven't painted), and some cheap brushes. Experiment and try to create something. It can be completely abstract and only for you. Learn how the paint dries, and how adding a bit of water to your paint affects it. Look up some YouTube tutorials on beginning painting. Best thing to do is to just keep painting. You can even take a canvas and just keep painting white or black over it to start over, just so you aren't spending much on canvas. I am totally unable to paint 3D objects, but I do a lot of abstract and symbolic/occult type art, and I personally love it as a means of meditation and getting away from technology.
- danielbarla 2y ago
  There are a large number of courses for both digital and traditional painting on platforms like Udemy, many of which are insanely good value when they go on sale.
progmetaldev 2y ago
Just wanted to say that I see you post a fair bit in HN, but have never heard about your music and art. The hair is great, and with the art, I picture some kind of doom metal. I completely agree with you on needing to do things your way, for the things that you have passion for. If you can make money off it, that's great, but if it's only for money you'll probably burn-out and despise it.
- ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
  Thanks! Yeah, when I was forced to retire, I was really pissed, but it ended up being one of the best things to have happened to me.
  - progmetaldev 2y ago
    I am in the same boat right now. My boss has come to me and said he can't afford to pay me any longer, while I am very underpaid, but I chose that because I get a ton of freedom to choose technology and can take time off whenever I need it. I have extreme impostor syndrome, and have always been the lead software engineer, so have only had online resources for mentorship. I have written quite a bit of business software, and I've been maintaining software that evaluates banks and credit unions for risk, and have been working on it since 2009. I read HN, and think that I am probably in a good spot for myself, once I walk away and find something else. Probably almost anything. I crave knowledge and haven't compromised much on the software I've built in the last decade or so, and feel like I can confidently explain my reasoning and techniques for large projects. Most of what I do is under NDA, and I (maybe not-so-smart) have done a TON of work outside of normal hours, but I've always put them back into the company's software. I do feel like you are living the type of life when it comes to being happy and satisfied, so I just wanted you to know I appreciate your comments/posts and outlook on things.
    - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
      I sincerely wish you luck. I was blessed, having the resources to retire early. Most are not so fortunate.
southernplaces7 2y ago
Love the 70's fantasy feel of your paintings. Nice touch of nostalgia.

bollu 2y ago

How'd you recommend I learnt to paint? I've not really done much painting in my life at all, and I'd love a breakdown.

ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
Well, sketching (constantly practicing, by drawing) is extremely important. It helps to coordinate the eye and the hand. It starts with being able to accurately and dispassionately render what I see, on paper. From there, I am able to modify the process, so the visual source, is in my head, as opposed to in front of my eyes. Artists like Picasso and Pollock were actually very good realist artists, but their expression came from their interpretation of their own vision. In my experience, there’s no shortcuts. I have to be able crawl, then walk, before I can run. Just like software development. In my case, hiring a teacher, who, right off the bat, told me I was screwing up, was also necessary.
- froh 2y ago
  > there’s no shortcuts. I have to be able crawl, then walk, before I can run. yes, so much this! my.fad, also a passionate artist, hated how they thinned out technical crafts foundations from arts college. "no more stupid copying and banale Line and color practice! freedum!" the college went. my dad just said (translation follows) @> Kunst kommt von können. Wenn es von wollen käme hieße es Wunst und wir wären Wünstler. art comes from artistry. if it was based on "wanting" we'd call it "want" and we (artists) were "wantists" or "wished" and "wishedits" along these lines he'd learned sketching from herding small livestock, goats, geese, chicken and sketching them, as a kid...
progmetaldev 2y ago
ChrisMarshallNY gave you the true answer, as far as creating the type of art that he's made (which I find amazing) and mastering painting. Another way to go about it (which I did at the start of the pandemic) is to just buy some canvases and acrylic paint (more forgiving than oil since you haven't painted), and some cheap brushes. Experiment and try to create something. It can be completely abstract and only for you. Learn how the paint dries, and how adding a bit of water to your paint affects it. Look up some YouTube tutorials on beginning painting. Best thing to do is to just keep painting. You can even take a canvas and just keep painting white or black over it to start over, just so you aren't spending much on canvas. I am totally unable to paint 3D objects, but I do a lot of abstract and symbolic/occult type art, and I personally love it as a means of meditation and getting away from technology.
danielbarla 2y ago
There are a large number of courses for both digital and traditional painting on platforms like Udemy, many of which are insanely good value when they go on sale.

progmetaldev 2y ago

Just wanted to say that I see you post a fair bit in HN, but have never heard about your music and art. The hair is great, and with the art, I picture some kind of doom metal. I completely agree with you on needing to do things your way, for the things that you have passion for. If you can make money off it, that's great, but if it's only for money you'll probably burn-out and despise it.

ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
Thanks! Yeah, when I was forced to retire, I was really pissed, but it ended up being one of the best things to have happened to me.
- progmetaldev 2y ago
  I am in the same boat right now. My boss has come to me and said he can't afford to pay me any longer, while I am very underpaid, but I chose that because I get a ton of freedom to choose technology and can take time off whenever I need it. I have extreme impostor syndrome, and have always been the lead software engineer, so have only had online resources for mentorship. I have written quite a bit of business software, and I've been maintaining software that evaluates banks and credit unions for risk, and have been working on it since 2009. I read HN, and think that I am probably in a good spot for myself, once I walk away and find something else. Probably almost anything. I crave knowledge and haven't compromised much on the software I've built in the last decade or so, and feel like I can confidently explain my reasoning and techniques for large projects. Most of what I do is under NDA, and I (maybe not-so-smart) have done a TON of work outside of normal hours, but I've always put them back into the company's software. I do feel like you are living the type of life when it comes to being happy and satisfied, so I just wanted you to know I appreciate your comments/posts and outlook on things.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
    I sincerely wish you luck. I was blessed, having the resources to retire early. Most are not so fortunate.

southernplaces7 2y ago

Love the 70's fantasy feel of your paintings. Nice touch of nostalgia.