I’m exploring oil paints for the first time. Because I work inside without good ventilation, water-based oils seem a safer choice than traditional oils. The buttery consistency of the paint creates great texture, and the long drying time allows revisions for several days. This was inspired by a painting I saw on Pinterest.
Acrylics are so different from watercolor. They are opaque so you can paint white on top of black. Acrylics dry within an hour. You can paint on and on forever, covering previous layers without creating mud. But sometimes it’s hard to know when to stop. This painting went through several iterations.
“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.” — Mary Jean Irion
Pinterest (and Instagram) are an excellent way to learn and be inspired by new approaches to art. Last week I discovered Donna Walker on Pinterest, and I’m trying to learn from her paintings. It’s fun to use acrylics for the first time in awhile. This 5″ x 7″ summer scene is for sale for $75 (free shipping); all proceeds will go to protect voters in GA, AZ and NC from voter suppression in November.
Sketching can be quick and doesn’t have to say much — the viewers’ imagination will fill in the rest. These shapes are just little dabs, but do you imagine a scene nonetheless?
