This painting reminds me of one I came across recently. I really liked it, the painting technique was excellent, like yours, just a tad dark. There was yellow in that painting, but then a lot of dark black or brown. Of course I will never remember the title or artist. You should definately keep it up. You've done well

i'm OK with believing that our existence on our tiny planet in a galaxy on the edge of a vast universe is meaningless.

I am so jealous of artists like yourself. I cannot draw. Period. Even my stick figures are failures.

Great painting, so much meaning in it.

Nice work! I will probably post some of mine in the future but I have not tried painting a person yet...I do realism drawings and acrylic still life at the moment.

Nice work...

Nice painting...congrats!

I too have never had a belief in god or a higher purpose. I believe we imbue our lives with whatever meaning we decide on...it’s entirely in our own gift.

There have been a few times when I questioned my ideas concerning religion and a white man in the sky micromanaging things. Never lasted long and ended with fuck that shit.
I like your artwork.

Meaning quite simply comes from curiosity for learning and discovery, from creativity, and from relationship connections we form throughout our life journey. Throw on a measure of humor and whimsey, which are both offshoots of creativity, and that is the cherry on top. How we organize and prioritize those elements is up to each of us.
No magical thinking required.

interesting; ive always believed, but never bought the definition of eternity as forever, and never quite understood what ppl mean by "meaning" i guess. Quite inspired art there, you got talent imo

You can choose between the meaning you create yourself, just as you paint. Or you can take the off the shelf meaning created by fake authority, and sold by dealers in church.

As a long-time art-lover....it's very well done! Did you have training? Who taught you to mix your paints? The shading on her shoulders is very interesting! I wish you well with this...you're talented, to say the least!

And, hopefully, having that talent will give you meaning in life.

If you have not found meaning in your life keep searching. Absolutely nothing can give you meaning. It has to come form you.

I love it artistically, it reminds me of a high contrast painting of Christ called “The Agony” I think, mostly black with the highlighted outer edge of a mans face clearly wearing a crown of thorns. I love the composition even if it’s only artistically inspirational. I get the same feel from your composition.

I use Zen Taoism. There isn't much magical about it.

Cool painting! They need to come up with a course in practical philosophy...or would that be better used as fuel for an improbability drive? My apologies if you don't get the Douglas Adams reference, he was a practical philosopher.

I’ve found there’s no need to create meaning, and am fulfilled by it.