The mind-bonkle of barim-ing in minhwa

First of all, the word “mind-bonkle” does not exist in the dictionary as far as I know. I just invented it to describe the frustration at the face of given challenge and failing.

Second of all, “barim” (바림) is how you call painting a gradient as a Minhwa technique.

Barim comes after you’ve done your first coloring all around. You fill inside the lines with a color, maybe do it twice for the color to pop enough.

When you barim, you paint 1/3 or 1/2 of the original space with a darker color than the first layer. For example, if you have a light pink flower petal, you take a medium pink color and paint on top from where the petal starts toward the edge of the petal. Then you take a clean brush that’s only dipped in water and smooth the edge of the medium pink color out and spread it toward the remaining 1/3 area of the same petal. By thinning and spreading the color, you create a gradient.

It is not easy as it sounds.

I am at this exact stage right now for a Minhwa painting, and I can’t seem to get my gradient smooth.

It’s got splotches and uneven lines and it’s driving me nuts. I can see water stains and I can see brush strokes and it’s just not even and neat and pretty.

I am new to Minhwa, yes. I am also harsh on myself, yes.

I am trying to take my harsh eyes to see the flaws but only to fix it, not to scold me.

I will go fix it as much as I can.

I shall learn how to do it well faster some day.