Oils

my oil painting palette!

I have been enjoying painting in oils for several years now, after ignoring the medium quite successfully for much of my developing career. I think my hesitance was due to my first experiences in high school and making a total mess of the medium - nothing I did ever turned out right in oil paint, though I could always get the results I wanted with water-colours or by drawing. More recently I think I've developed the patience and maturity necessary to be satisfied with the results. They tend to have rougher edges and be a little looser in style than my acrylic work. I love the finishes possible and the natural ingredients of traditional oil paints but I also enjoy working with the less toxic Alkyd Oils which are available now. Where possible I use traditional hand mixed gesso but for some smaller standard sized pieces I use ready prepared canvasses.