Sam Herdman
@whattafiasco.bsky.social
Retired code monkey, epee fencer, artist, avid SFF reader.
Finally, a little sunshine.
November 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Finally, a little sunshine.
I love seeing the beautiful things my friends make.
July 2, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I love seeing the beautiful things my friends make.
Painting clouds thanks to a photo sent to me by a friend. It could use one more pass for details, but it was a pleasant palate cleanser to get me back to the oil paints.
June 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Painting clouds thanks to a photo sent to me by a friend. It could use one more pass for details, but it was a pleasant palate cleanser to get me back to the oil paints.
Took a little more time playing around with some light graphite today.
May 22, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Took a little more time playing around with some light graphite today.
Monday night pencil sketching.
May 13, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Monday night pencil sketching.
Sometimes you can casually put pencil to paper and suddenly feel the leveling up flowing through your arm and fingers. More practice.
April 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Sometimes you can casually put pencil to paper and suddenly feel the leveling up flowing through your arm and fingers. More practice.
Woke up in the middle of the night to a long rolling list of just things I know the administration is trying to destroy. Spent part of the afternoon drawing sketches that help nothing but my mental health.
March 22, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Woke up in the middle of the night to a long rolling list of just things I know the administration is trying to destroy. Spent part of the afternoon drawing sketches that help nothing but my mental health.
I am so out of the habit of being sick – thank goodness! But having no appetite for days is a new weirdness. It was a relief today to 1) feel hungry 2) decide on something that sounded appetizing and 3) tasted as good as I had expected. Joy!Steamed eggs for the win.
March 19, 2025 at 3:28 AM
I am so out of the habit of being sick – thank goodness! But having no appetite for days is a new weirdness. It was a relief today to 1) feel hungry 2) decide on something that sounded appetizing and 3) tasted as good as I had expected. Joy!Steamed eggs for the win.
I was in the mood to draw horses, so I grabbed some reference from pexels and headed off to a soulless chain. Today an employee stopped to tell me how amazing my drawing was. But he stood there looking so gobsmacked I wanted to put a pencil and sketchbook in his hands and ask him to draw. Make art.
March 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I was in the mood to draw horses, so I grabbed some reference from pexels and headed off to a soulless chain. Today an employee stopped to tell me how amazing my drawing was. But he stood there looking so gobsmacked I wanted to put a pencil and sketchbook in his hands and ask him to draw. Make art.
It’s never a bad day to practice drawing hands.
February 20, 2025 at 5:35 AM
It’s never a bad day to practice drawing hands.
Decided to try a digital cartoon version of a more realistic pencil sketch I did earlier, done from memory.
February 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Decided to try a digital cartoon version of a more realistic pencil sketch I did earlier, done from memory.
All that, out there, isn’t doing me much good, so might as well keep drawing.
January 31, 2025 at 5:42 PM
All that, out there, isn’t doing me much good, so might as well keep drawing.
Pretty happy with today’s quick sketch.
January 26, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Pretty happy with today’s quick sketch.
Finished up an 8x10” cross stitch from a sketch I did and it only took me about a year longer than I had expected. Now to figure out whether to frame it or make a pillow. Still not sure how well I like it, but I’m happy that I stuck with it to the finish.
January 20, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Finished up an 8x10” cross stitch from a sketch I did and it only took me about a year longer than I had expected. Now to figure out whether to frame it or make a pillow. Still not sure how well I like it, but I’m happy that I stuck with it to the finish.
Some cat fanart to finish off the year. Many thanks to @princetoby.bsky.social
December 31, 2024 at 11:44 PM
Some cat fanart to finish off the year. Many thanks to @princetoby.bsky.social
Calling this one done. “Los Cerillos” based off one of many many photos I’ve taken while riding Amtrak. Wasn’t thinking about painting when I took them, but they’ve been a great resource for reference. #oilpainting
December 29, 2024 at 5:35 AM
Calling this one done. “Los Cerillos” based off one of many many photos I’ve taken while riding Amtrak. Wasn’t thinking about painting when I took them, but they’ve been a great resource for reference. #oilpainting
Space Cats! (Looking forward to reading the next book from @nnedi.bsky.social)
December 28, 2024 at 3:21 AM
Space Cats! (Looking forward to reading the next book from @nnedi.bsky.social)
An attempt at painting fur in oils. #oilpainting
December 16, 2024 at 4:02 AM
An attempt at painting fur in oils. #oilpainting
Oil sketch on paper. I decided to start doing these in a 9x12 sketchbook so I can keep them together and in order.
December 2, 2024 at 4:16 AM
Oil sketch on paper. I decided to start doing these in a 9x12 sketchbook so I can keep them together and in order.
Yesterday’s 30 minute oil sketch portrait practice. As usual, plenty of things that need fixing, but that’s why it’s practice. #oilpainting
November 26, 2024 at 6:06 PM
Yesterday’s 30 minute oil sketch portrait practice. As usual, plenty of things that need fixing, but that’s why it’s practice. #oilpainting
Trying a quick sketch in oil.
November 24, 2024 at 11:57 PM
Trying a quick sketch in oil.
I enjoy looking at a piece I just finished and realizing that what makes it work are things I didn’t think about consciously. But something is sticking, even when it’s just a quick sketch.
November 13, 2024 at 3:32 AM
I enjoy looking at a piece I just finished and realizing that what makes it work are things I didn’t think about consciously. But something is sticking, even when it’s just a quick sketch.
Cleaning things up I found a pad of toned paper I’d forgotten about and, hey, I haven’t played with colored pencils in a hot minute. It’s nice to be able to recognize that I’m making some progress in addition to just having fun drawing.
November 9, 2024 at 7:59 PM
Cleaning things up I found a pad of toned paper I’d forgotten about and, hey, I haven’t played with colored pencils in a hot minute. It’s nice to be able to recognize that I’m making some progress in addition to just having fun drawing.
