Painters: Need help impressing a girl.

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

PAINTED??

 

[thestrangequark]

^Probably. I can't remember, it's been awhile since I saw it. There were a lot of penises, though, and a lot of painting bodies!

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well I like penises. Not as much as space ships, though they do have similarities. Not sure I'd want them painted personally (though I recommend Kommander develop a very special plan involving tendrils and/or circuits for his) as they are kind of unusable until you wash it off.

 

[nightwind1]

As I mentioned in one or two other threads, I met a girl at the New Year's Eve party I went to, and things are going well. Going well as far as her and I interacting, anyway.

She's a painter, or was, anyway. While she loves it, she hasn't painted anything in over a year. Things have been rough for her lately. Among other things, a back injury kept her pretty much immobile for a good chunk of last year. She only recently recovered. Because of this, she hasn't felt inspired to paint. Me being the awesome person that I am, I've decided I'm going to help her get the inspiration back and get painting again.

For my first attempt, I want to surprise her with a basic set-up she'd need and try to get her to paint something on the spot. The problem is, I've never painted artistically before, so I don't know what I'm doing:

-- What supplies do I need to buy? Paint, canvas, brushes, and an easel obviously. What kind of paint should I get and what colors? What types of brushes might she want to use? I'd like to try to get stuff that's a little better than what she has (probably pretty basic), but I don't really need high-end stuff. I'm thinking I'd like to spend $200 or less, unless I need to spend more.

-- What do I need to do to get everything ready to use? I want her to be able to just walk up and start painting. How do I get the canvas ready? That kind of stuff.

-- What do I need to do to pull this off?

I'd imagine the people at the art store can help me with a lot of this, but maybe not all of it.

Given how my last thread about trying to impress a girl went:

It's too early in the relationship to be doing stuff like this. You're going to creep her out and she'll stop talking to you. Just do normal date stuff. Be a totally boring person and not yourself. Even though she's just as eccentric as you are, you should be normal and boring because that's what all women want men to be like because women are all the same and they want all men to be the same and you have no idea what you're doing.

I'm not asking if I should do this or if it's a good idea. It's totally a good idea and I'm going to do it. Even if I can't get her inspired and she doesn't paint anything, she will still love it if I do this. However, I am going to wait a bit. I should probably get a few more dates out of the way before I try something like this. Also, shut up, you have no idea what you're talking about, and I am awesome.

EDIT: About that previous thread. I told the girl involved what I was doing with the story. She said she picked up on it, through what I did was funny, and that it totally would have worked if that's what she was doing (i.e.: if she wasn't in a monogamous relationship). So, everyone who doubted me was wrong.

It's totally NOT a good idea, it's borderline stalker-y to just spring it on her.

Besides which, every artist is different- only she knows what types of paints, brushes, pallets, canvases, easels, etc. that she likes to use. Some artists like oils, some like acrylics. Every artist also has their own favorite brands of materials, their own favorite types and brands of brushes, etc.

 

[Grey]

Well, you said you were willing to spend up to $200 or so. That's good, because the whole set up won't be cheat whatever it is.

If you want to get "better than what she has" you'd have to find out what she has first. And it'll probably be pretty expensive to upgrade a full set of painting supplies from there.

As an artist, it has taken me years to build up my collection of paints, brushes, canvases, etc. because buying them all at once would be out of the question. If you're just buying the supplies for one painting, it might not be so bad, though.

Me, personally, I use little tiny canvases (4 x 6 inches and smaller) and those are pretty cheap. Were you thinking of getting one of those huge stand-to-paint-on-it canvases or something kinda smaller?

Find out what she does and what area of painting she does and it'll be easier to help.

As for the springing this on an artist thing...if someone did this to me, they probably wouldn't get a painting so much as a self-deprecating laugh and a shrug off. But I'd appreciate the new art supplies.

 

[thestrangequark]

Yeah, I don't think any one artist can speak for the rest. She might really appreciate it, she might not. If someone went and bought me a bunch of canvasses I'd be pleased as punch: those things cost a fortune. If someone bought me paper, I'd probably be grateful, but wouldn't use it; I am very particular about the type of paper on which I draw.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

That's why my idea is so excellent. It's all about HIM while subtly lighting the fire within HER. He should buy the body appropriate paints he wants for an inspired creative idea he has and eagerly request her skills. It's not about how she is burned out, it's about his desire to be her canvas. That's romantic, isn't it.

 

[sidious618]

Yeah, I don't think any one artist can speak for the rest. She might really appreciate it, she might not.

Yeah. If someone plopped a piece of paper in front of me and said, "Write a story" I'd probably tell them to go to hell. Some people can do things on the spot and get excited while others would find it annoying.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

POST NOW SIDIOUS

 

[sidious618]

DAMN YOU!

 

[rhubarbodendron]

not overly creative, but not all that bad for an on-the-spot performance

Have you ever been abroad and when discussing languages someone asked you to say something in your native language? One is always at a loss what to say in such moments. I think it's much worse with painting or any other creative art.
I'm a scientist but I, too, would have trouble to extemporize an article for the Scientific American or a similar magazine.

Luring someone into being creative might work. Forcing is not going to.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Have you ever been abroad and when discussing languages someone asked you to say something in your native language? One is always at a loss what to say in such moments.

Duh, you swear.

 

[Gul Re'jal]

Have you ever been abroad and when discussing languages someone asked you to say something in your native language? One is always at a loss what to say in such moments.

I always choose a tongue twister

 

[Kommander]

Well, since you have pretty much decided your strategy, how about asking her to paint a portrait of you? That way she'd feel a bit less obliged and under pressure. And it'd at least add a remotely romantic touch to the whole affair.

If she needs prompting to get ideas flowing, I'm going to suggest something abstract or metaphorical; focus on what she's feeling rather than what she's painting. She doubts herself a little too much. If I asked her to do a portrait she'd probably be worried about not being good enough, and impressing me with her skill isn't the point. She does a lot of fantasy/mythological imagery, I don't even know if she'd want to do a portrait.

How about taking her to a painting class... Painting With A Twist is a good one, and it looks like there are two in your area. I participated in one last weekend and even though I'm no artist it was fun and would be good for a date.

I'd like to avoid painting myself if possible. While watching me try to paint would definitely help her with the self-doubt issue, as it would be really bad, I really don't want to be doing any painting myself. Her and I have plenty of other common interests that she might find inspiring without me having to paint anything.

Although... when I do what the thread is about. If she's hesitant to get started, maybe then I should paint something, or get it started. If the final result is a painting we worked on together, that might have some special meaning. I'm probably going to ad-lib most of it based on her reaction, but it helps to have ideas ahead of time. Thanks for mentioning this.

I'd say have a nice hike or a stroll through a museum together. That sounds like an excellent idea to me. During those strolls discussions about her art and interests could be the best inspiration for her to get back to creating again....

This I could do. I have to do a school thing at the Detroit Institute of Arts and I'm going to ask her to go with me, but that's not until April. Maybe I'll do something before then.

Depends on what kind of paint she uses, watercolor, acrylics, or oils. The supplies for each will be very different.

Yeah, I need to try to get a look at her stuff. I doubt she uses oils, given that they're always expensive. Maybe she'd like to if I can find the budget for it? Actually, it probably doesn't matter what supplies I get. Given I am not a painter and she knows this, she'll probably be impressed if I get stuff from an actual art store and not present her with paints and brushes I bought at Home Depot.

Do you know for sure that she doesn't still have supplies that she just isn't using?

I'm sure she does, but not that I have access to and can set up. If I use her supplies, at best she figures out what I'm up to, at worst she'd be pissed about me stealing her stuff.

I go through phases myself: I don't draw or paint at all for several months at a time, but then have a massive creative spurt 2 to 3 times per year, lasting 2 weeks to a month at a time, and during which I can produce dozens of drawings and/or paintings. Maybe she just doesn't feel like painting.

Her and I have discussed it. She wants to get painting again, the only issue is the lack of inspiration. I also said I'd like to help her with it if possible. Her response was along the lines of "you've got your work cut out for you."

Hmm... I just realized I already have implied consent to do what I'm going to do. Kommander: 1; Doubty McBuzzkill: 0

Are you sleeping with her? If so I'm thinking body paint is the way to start. Tell her you've always wanted to be a forest, you have tried to do it yourself but it is awkward.. have a lot of greens and browns and yellow body paints and brushes on hand. Use 'em up a bit so it looks like you did attempt this. Wouldn't hurt to get some under your fingernails too.

I have slept with her, in the sense that we slept in the same bed after the NYE party, there was lots of cuddling, and it was awesome. I have not had sex with her yet.

I actually think she might go for something like this. It doesn't really appeal to me though. We'll see.

It's totally NOT a good idea, it's borderline stalker-y to just spring it on her.

I have a problem with statements like this. Actions in themselves are not creepy or stalker-y, how the target of said actions perceives them is what's important.

If I bought her a ring and purposed right now, it would be creepy as fuck. If I do it three or four years from now, probably not. My actions would be exactly the same. However, her perceptions would change between dating me for two weeks and dating me for several years.

Even typical stalker behavior, such as tracking people down, or driving past someone's house repeatedly; it's not the behavior, it's that it's unwanted.

As for my situation: The thing with this girl isn't exactly typical "dating." We connected, and are thoroughly impressed with each other. We got talking a little after midnight, and then the next thing we knew it was 9am, the party ended hours ago, and everyone else had either left or gone to bed. I'm a smoker, and the house was non-smoking. Do you have any idea how thoroughly engrossed in a conversation I have to be to go more than eight hours without a cigarette when I've been drinking? Before that night, my record was three. We went to bed, got up around four, and then spent another several hours talking and only left because the home owner made us leave. I never asked her out, and she didn't ask me out. We just mutually decided "we're dating now." Well, she did ask for my phone number, but we'd need some way to contact each other in order to date.

My point is, her and I have the rapport necessary for me to try something like this. If we didn't, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it.

Me, personally, I use little tiny canvases (4 x 6 inches and smaller) and those are pretty cheap. Were you thinking of getting one of those huge stand-to-paint-on-it canvases or something kinda smaller?

I was thinking something medium-sized, but I should probably find out what size she normally uses and go for something similar to that. I think 18" by 11" or so, but I'm going on cell phone pictures so that's only a rough estimate; could be anything really. If she uses various sizes I'll go for something in the middle: enough room to work with without it feeling overwhelming or cramped. If she seems to prefer a particular size I'll go for something close to that.

As for the springing this on an artist thing...if someone did this to me, they probably wouldn't get a painting so much as a self-deprecating laugh and a shrug off. But I'd appreciate the new art supplies.

That's probably about the worst reaction I'd expect from her. If that's what happens, maybe the new supplies will help to get her going again. So, mission accomplished.

 

[Kommander]

Even though I did not ask for input on whether or not I should do this, Doubty McBuzzkill still sucks, and I am definitely going to do this, I've rethought my strategy a bit.

I'm going to hold off a little longer than I originally planned. I'm going to try to get her painting again in other ways, and then do the surprise art set thing to keep her going. If I do it this way, it'll come as slightly less of a shock, I'll be able to get a better idea of the kinds of art supplies she'd need/want, and the chances of it being awesome go way up, instead of being only kind of awesome or thoughtful but not resulting in anything other than new art supplies for her. So, thanks to everyone that offered ideas on other ways to inspire her. I will probably use some of them, pretend I came up with them on my own, and not give anyone else any credit.

While I'm here, some more about the other thread:

I'm meeting her for coffee on Monday. She thinks meeting at a coffee place is awesome so everyone in the other thread was wrong.

Completely different girl in my new Creative Writing class wrote a poem for me. She was being a smart ass about a conversation we were having, and it wasn't creepy at all. So, everyone that disagreed with the basic premise of other thread is also wrong. I responded by writing her a poem where I picked on her for being an Objectivist, which was funny and also not creepy. Then she started telling me about her sexual tastes and that was mildly creepy, but awesome. Still, for being a Randroid, Other Girl is actually pretty tolerable. My point is, Doubty McBuzzkill is bad at everything and should feel bad.

 

[Kestra]

I'm less inclined to try and be helpful in the future.

 

[Kommander]

^ Fine, you get credit if I use something you said. No one else though.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Completely different girl in my new Creative Writing class wrote a poem for me. She was being a smart ass about a conversation we were having, and it wasn't creepy at all. So, everyone that disagreed with the basic premise of other thread is also wrong. I responded by writing her a poem where I picked on her for being an Objectivist, which was funny and also not creepy. Then she started telling me about her sexual tastes and that was mildly creepy, but awesome. Still, for being a Randroid, Other Girl is actually pretty tolerable. My point is, Doubty McBuzzkill is bad at everything and should feel bad.

I think your exuberance makes people want to throw cold water on you.

 

[Kommander]

Completely different girl in my new Creative Writing class wrote a poem for me. She was being a smart ass about a conversation we were having, and it wasn't creepy at all. So, everyone that disagreed with the basic premise of other thread is also wrong. I responded by writing her a poem where I picked on her for being an Objectivist, which was funny and also not creepy. Then she started telling me about her sexual tastes and that was mildly creepy, but awesome. Still, for being a Randroid, Other Girl is actually pretty tolerable. My point is, Doubty McBuzzkill is bad at everything and should feel bad.

I think your exuberance makes people want to throw cold water on you.

So that's why people are always randomly throwing water balloons at me? I figured they were doing it because it's funny. It doesn't matter though, they always miss.

Also, my attempts to be concise when posting probably make me come off as more manic than I really am.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Oh you mean your staccato listing of pertinent facts?