Why an Oil Painter ditched her oils

A month ago I decided to make space in my life to make. As a mother to a toddler (2 in February?!) and a full time art teacher in public school, my ability to spend hours in my home studio crafting oil paintings just isn’t feasible. I was sick of being a victim about the whole thing. Maybe you’ve done that to yourself as well.

Everyone else has the time to make art.

When is it my turn? If only I had the money to make art full time. If only I taught part time. If only I had free daycare.

So I pulled out my calendar and took an honest look at the time I had and made a commitment. I would give myself 10 Days. I had winter break coming up and new that I’d have some daycare filled days and no teaching. Thus, the 10 Day Plein Air Challenge was born.

10 Day Plein Air Challenge Affirmations

Day 1:

I learned this board wasn’t prepped for oils. Oops! Lesson learned. This is the bike path near my house. Beautiful day but the oil just SUNK into my support.

Sale alert!: This piece just sold and I couldn't be more excited! *oil on board*

Day 2:

Tried out a canvas paper which I prepped with napthol red acrylic. The surface worked better. This is my actual backyard. *oil on canvas paper*

Day 3:

Same support, different technique! I was getting frustrated with my blues sinking into my support so I used an impasto technique to build up my color quickly. Again, my actual backyard.

*oil on canvas paper*

Day 4:

I had about an hour on this day and knew I wouldn’t have time to set up my easel and palette so I did a quick pen and ink sketch of a Croton plant that was in my backyard. *pen, watercolor on watercolor paper*

Day 5:

This was Christmas Day! I received my travelogue sketch book and watercolor set. It was instant love! This is my parents Christmas tree. *watercolor on paper*

Day 6:

Citrus imagery is my favorite! My husbands family comes from a long line of citrus grove farmers, so I couldn’t resist painting this on our flight to Puerto Rico. Technically this was a plane air painting because I love a good pun.

Sale Alert!: this piece sold over the weekend! yay!

*watercolor on paper*

Day 7: