My daughter before her ballet recital, painted more than ten years ago… it is my one and only acrylic painting. I still had young children then and had frequent interruptions in painting. I complained about how fast the paint dries and my husband suggested I try oil painting. At a later time I did, and I’ve never stopped since. Even though my children aren’t little anymore, the family is active and almost more distracting. I appreciate how oils allow me to stop what I’m doing and go back to it hours or even days later. That’s really the only way an art vocation can work into the balance of my life.
But, beyond the practical nature of oils, I prefer them for many other reasons. I like the feel, glide, and ability to create texture, even light sculpting when the paint is especially thick. I also prefer the vibrant hues and reflective nature of oils. I like the connection to classical and renaissance art of old. I feel a part of something that pines for enlightenment, an affinity with those who paint to express the longing of the human spirit to be known, loved, and elevated to goodness.
I am happy though to have used acrylics for this painting of my daughter in her dance costume. The nature of the paints make this look almost vintage, and as the years pass, the memory of it feels longer and longer ago. She says this is her favorite painting I’ve done, and she adds “of course it’s of ME”, but she is drawn to the softer hues and subtle lines, so acrylic appeals to her also.
I don’t know if I’ll get back into acrylics ever, but I doubt it. I do prefer oils and they feel much more intuitive to how I paint. If you enjoy art but haven’t yet found your way, it’s possible that you haven’t hit upon the medium you’d be natural for. Maybe you prefer the more flowy style of inks and watercolors? Or you are choosing between acrylic and oil? Pencils? There are so many differences, and that’s without exploring styles of drawing, painting, and creating. So if you’ve become discouraged, perhaps you should try something new.
Note: There’s no video to watch me paint this. I wasn’t filming my sessions yet. Also, I could only find a low resolution photo of it after it was hung on the wall. I’ll keep digging for a higher resolution photo, but I may have to resort to taking a new photo of the original, which is still wrapped up after our move to Georgia. When I get my act together with this piece I’ll create an art page for it on this site.
Subscribe to Blog via Email
I’m HOME!
All moved in and my Internet is up. Did you miss me? I missed you! I’ll catch up when I can. Just wanted to post
Moving Day!
This looks nothing like the house we’re closing on, but our house IS in Savannah. I had no idea when I painted this several years
MOVING TOMORROW!
WHEW! The issues are finally resolved and our delayed close on the house will happen TOMORROW! Tomorrow is moving day! I shall fly like this
S T R E S S E D
Today was a highly stressful day. We still haven’t closed on the house and we are now running out of time for the moving pods,
BAD DAY
Well, there must have been a bad moon a’rising because today was a horrible day. The close on our house was cancelled, and then thankfully
Super Laundry!
My son is college age now, not a little boy like in this art for children’s book “Grandpa Smiles” (about my dad, who died before
Happy Day!
Today we had the opportunity to bring the kids to the house we’ll be closing on. Until now, they’d only seen the pictures and video.
Bandits!
These birds have been coming around and stealing our strawberries! What a disappointment! I was enjoying a fresh berry with Cool Whip as a snack
Easy Going
This painting was a “free paint” project, in which there is no reference, plan, or agenda other than to let the paints flow. I start
Joyful Memories!
Moving is so hard and bittersweet. The passage of time is on display with every box that is packed, every room that is emptied. Today
WOOT!
“Fred” was my dad’s nickname for me. This painting was inspired by a black and white photograph he took to complete an assignment for a
Wild Days
Ever feel that you live your life with reckless abandon, like these wild horses? What do they care about consequences or the worries of tomorrow?
aww
My daughter brought me one of the boxes she packed herself for our move, for me to load onto the POD container. She said it
Nature’s Music
This painting was an experiment. A talented indie composer shared his work online and I asked if I could use it to paint what I
Ooh, Pretty!
These flowers are probably the closest thing I have right now to what my new “Freedom Rose” looks like, but imagine the buds and open
LOL, Pumpkin
I planted a couple of pumpkins in grow bags and decided that I’d take those to the new house. Well, one of the pumpkins decided
Bearing Up
The PODS container was dropped off today. I spent hours packing the first round of our household, mostly by myself. I felt victorious, like this
Lead me HOME!
When I painted this city of Savannah oil painting, I had no idea that I’d one day live not very far from this fountain square.
Strawberry Mine!
Guess what’s ready to eat already? I had the most delicious vibrant red fresh strawberry with a bit of whipped cream, MMMM! But you know
Moving Soon!
Oil painting “Autumn Cottage”, time lapse video to watch Natalie paint this art, journey of move during housing crisis
