Oil Painting #1: Red Dahlia

On Fridays in the summer I like to slip off to Kris' open studio at the Sellwood Art Academy. I discovered this place the first lonely summer I was in Portland and I took a few classes there with a bunch of kids. Kid's classes are Monday through Thursday. On Fridays a jolly group of women artists gather to work on whatever their latest project may be. For a fee, you get to use all of Kris' considerable collection of art supplies and also get her support in teaching you new mediums. It's really fun to work with a group of artists instead of in solitude. There's always a free critique available if you ask, but most of the comments are supportive.

I've been wanting to try oil painting for a while so it was a great opportunity to use all of Kris's oils for free to experiment with. Here's my first painting. I think I really like the way the oils move and blend and mix. I love how the paintings look like lifeless blobs when they only have midtones painted in, but then spring to life when the dark tones and the highlights are added. An act of Creation.