Oil painting at last!

A month or so ago I was buying canvases at my art supply store and as I was pawing through the discount bin I discovered scads of the water mixable oil paint starter kits. They were greatly reduced so of course I snapped one up. I have wanted to use oils forever and when I heard about this new non-toxic paint I was very excited and curious. I just got around to trying the paints out this week. They don't have that familiar "oil" paint smell, though they do smell like cod liver oil. yuk. It is amazing to be able to wash the brushes out with water and use water to thin the paint. I did, however, forget that oil paint takes a looooong time to dry. I am so used to doing a couple of paintings, taking them downstairs, photographing or scanning them and listing them. I could take pictures of these before they are dry but what if they sell and are still wet? Wishful thinking about the selling I suppose.

I have been selling a lot of paintings on ebay lately. Because of their "listing sale" I listed like mad. I already told myself that to interest people in my work I had to have a "ton" of it listed. The sale gave me the push to do just that. I have often wondered if my variety of work works against me. I look at artists that sell lots of stuff and their work is very recognizable. I like to do many different things. I do work in series though. I'm really inspired by outside influences; our vacation road trip to the Southwest, Sunday drives to look at the autumn colors, trips to local galleries, art magazines, it all fills my mind with ideas. Right now I am working on a child's board book. I peeled off the shiny pictures and am adding squares of different papers. I plan to layer pictures, drawings, laces, maybe some beads. I have two stacks of books on my work table to use for different projects. Sometimes I just take them down and look at them, looking for an idea, or ripping out pages to use in a collage or to add to a painting.

It really feels like fall now. I love the colors and the fresh air but the dark mornings are not my friend. I like to start work before seven or so and it's too dark right now. I have a skylight in my studio but it only brings in more dark that early.