Calenmiriel wrote:
Welcome to Holy Worlds!
I hope this doesn't put a damper on things, but you'll soon realize you're surrounded by weir--um, creative people such as yourself.
If you don't mind me asking, what is the extent of your eyesight or lack thereof? Can you still see a little? *wondering since you can obviously be online and reading posts and fencing* I'm just really curious.
I love the outdoors too. One of the reasons I was Nature Director at the camp I worked at this summer. Being around nature makes me realize how beautiful our God is and how much there is to learn from it all. It truly amazes me. ^^ I'm not sure what qualifies a person to be a "professional hiker", but I put on quite a few miles over various terrain at camp if that counts. XD
I've never fenced before, but it sounds like a lot of fun.
I really want to learn how to paint! I've never been able to wrap my mind around blending and layering colors, which is why I usually only draw with pen or pencil. I'm hoping to learn watercoloring this fall/winter though.
It's great to meet you as well! I hope you have a fabulous day!
~Calen
Lol, it's no damper. I had an in depth discussion with my English teacher that it was a basic requirement for people who write to be weir - creative.
Basically, without any glasses/contacts on/in, I can't see anything passed 6 inches away from my face; beyond that it's all fuzzy shapes and color. Though my contacts help me to see much better.
And that's pretty cool.
I like being in storms, particularly with big, dark, rolling clouds, as it makes me wonder of the power of God. I love hiking through, because I love the smells, sights, and feel of God's creation. My dad and I just went to Bushkills Falls in NJ and we got to see a beautiful forest and see some amazing waterfalls. And I actually don't know what qualifies as a "professional hiker" either lol. I just tell my dad I could be a "professional hiker" and whenver people see me, they'll just be like, "Oh, it's that hobo in the woods."
Painting is not too hard. Watercolors is really fun, especially when you learn about all the techniques outside of the brush. So cool
Although it smears easier than the other paints, that's the only thing.
But if you have, say, oils, you just take the basic colors and shapes of the picture and paint them on first. They have no details or anything, but you have the colors that go in the picture and some shapes. Say you're doing mountains. You would have a blue sky, a gray mountain-like shape, and green on the bottom for the valley.
After that, you put in a few more colors that add some detail. Usually these colors are not the ones that stand out most; they are the supporting colors that give the picture definition and such. With the previous example of the mountain, the mountain might have some shadows on it. Since there is a sky, you could get away with making clouds, however far you get in them. Details on the valley could be started, or waited on until details in the back are finished.
Then you would add in the more prominent details until the painting looks real (if you're a realist) or however you want it.
Basically, the layering of a painting is going backwards from what you see in the picture.
And have a good day as well. Nice to meet you.
You should check out the 
If you have a specific dilemma you're working through, browse the forums or start a new thread - we can most likely find an answer!
I know you're going to enjoy your stay.
My brother and I are quite fortunate thus far now having glasses. All of my grandparents and great-grandparents have glasses as well as my parents. My brother, two cousins, and myself don't need them...yet anyways. I just have a really low reading glasses prescription because of eyestrain. *the result of reading a LOT* 
