Want to feel better, mentally? Do something with your hands! I suggest you try gouache! If you are reading this you have no excuse -learn - YouTube is a gift! You can learn anything you want from how to instal some part in a vehicle to learning a new craft or recipe, the choice is yours. Or you can check out blogs of artists, cooks, rocket scientists -I was reading a page the other day by a former Disney artist, getting 1st hand lessons, reading about things that happened - what a thrill, not quite the 'olden days- lol when you went to a library and drew a card or 20 to find books. I love books still... but YouTube. Thank you.
I painted tis Taz just to teach! me & you! A friend gave me a Warner Brother Art book decades ago and I look at it, read it and am inspired by it - a lot. Almost as much as I am inspired by the actual cartoons. WB Cartoonists were some of the best, ever. Currently I've been on. Bob McKimson kick - & both his brothers were also animators! Wow, what fun that much have been. Just to be surrounded by that kind of constant creativity would have been addictive & brain stimulating! More on him later. This painting was inspired by a photo in a book. Gouache was popular back in the day - it had a real run in the 60's & 70's with illustrations & from what I am aware most background art was painted with Gouache, I learned of one occasion the background was actually painted Oil colours- my brain scream - HOW!? Just drying time - goes against what animators did most, back then when no such thing like computers or Ai existed, the good ol days. They work on a dead line, no time to sit & watch paint dry. Gouache MUST dry between stages.
This is one of the most important lessons I can share. If you don't let layers dry they will blend through and on occasion you just might over work it (to death) and not be pleased. I painted it so you can see - how vibrant and sturdy' gouache can be - it is kinda like acrylic with covering up - provided you wait & let it dry. I' not kidding, I usually paint my backgrounds and the subject the next day or I use a fan to dry the work & go do a chore or two. Get in the practice of painting & waiting for best results. To explain the slides below: first I painted the page pale pink, added red trees, orange bushes - in that order from bottom to top - the background had to dry completely before I added the Blue details'.
The next day - I sketched Taz on a dry surface, it's bit difficult to see but I know I can sketch and leave it - as the gouache will cover it. My pencil marks are not clean.. I have decided never to erase them - proof it's NOT Ai.
Also pay attention with your final layers how wet your brush is, you don't want it too wet - like when painting the background, you want it damp and the paint thic. My brush was too wet (intentionally) on Taz's tummy and the orange did start to work through, can you see the streak marks? With the background dry I also added more blue details and mushrooms - cause that's another great thing for mental Health Mondays - psilocybin, preventing Dementia? Helping with depression, anxiety & Alzheimer's! More on THAT below if you choose thread further.
Lastly, I added metallic paint and was done! Look how the white easily covers the orange.. as long as it's dry, that's what I love about gouache.. when not dry it's as if painting with oil paint - blending abilities. I do think you need the experience of how gouache works before you blend. Use your hands! That's why God gave them to us - with handy dandy fingers!
I know - I have loss the use of my fingers in many ways and I miss simple stuff- like cutting out with scissors. as long as I can hold a paint brush - I'll keep on keeping on. Thanks to paint, psilocybin & always God.
Psilocybin as a Potential TreatmentPsilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, has gained attention for its potential therapeutic effects in various mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. Recent studies suggest that psilocybin may also have benefits for Alzheimer's patients, particularly in addressing symptoms like depression, which affects about 50% of individuals with AD.
Mechanisms of ActionResearch indicates that psilocybin acts on serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor, which may play a role in neuroplasticity and cognitive function. This interaction could help alleviate some cognitive and psychological symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Current Research InitiativesHarvard and other institutions are exploring the effects of psychedelics, including psilocybin, on neurodegenerative diseases. Ongoing studies aim to understand the pharmacological effects of psilocybin and its potential to improve neurocognitive functions and reduce inflammation in the brain.
ConclusionWhile research is still in its early stages, psilocybin shows promise as a novel therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease. Continued investigation is necessary to fully understand its efficacy and safety in this context.

















