Anyone else paint?

[owensmom]

Hi. I've decided this year to take my painting in earnest. I went to an art school but studied Graphic Design. I had a couple painting and Art classes as part of the curricculum (sp????).

I currently paint in acrylic, because that is what I know and what I do best (I stink at watercolor). I never had an interest in oils because I felt it was (1) too toxic and (2) I am too lazy to keep everything clean with turpentine and the like. I have some gouache but don't know how to use it, and some pastels I fool around with.

I recently decided to keep my easel up in a spare bedroom so I can run in and paint when I can or feel like it.

Anybody else? Do you sell your work? WE have a new gallery in town and I do their monthly promotional postcards and I was thinking of trying to sell something there....

[fraya]

I paint, watercolor and gouache (like opaque watercolor). I use the gouache to do mathila/madubhani painting.

I love painting. I had taken a watercolor class and then years later went to a Clemente exhibit at the Guggenheim that freed me for life! It's very cathartic. I just do it as a hobby, though. I painted little pieces that I added to my Christmas cards, but I also add them to postcards, gift tags, and the like.

I haven't sold anything and am too terrified to think of approaching someone -- I'll wait 'til someone approaches me, if that happens.

Still, I've enjoyed using it for projects -- like Christmas cards, invitations, and a couple of other 'projects' that I've started.

Good luck with it! I dig painting!

[StarMama]

Me too!

Yup I paint Have been for about 10 years now (since early high school)... I LOVE oil paints, but was told not to use them during pregnancy... so I've found out ways to use acrylics pretty decently as well... I also love watercolors, usually mixed with prismacolors colored pencils so I can get sharp details.

I don't sell my work, just because I love what I've done, and really don't feel I could get enough $ to part with the pieces that are *really* good. I've had people offer to buy a sphinx and Cleopatra I painted in high school, but I laugh when I ask them a price and they say $50. Not worth it.

Aside from canvas or paper painting I also do stuff with my Dh for our home. Our bed has painted parts to it (a mural of the ocean, with a mermaid, castle, and woman sitting on the moon on the footboard and stars and moons on the huge headboard/mirrored wall thing).... and I've painted tables for myself and my Dh (my fave is a huge BRIGHT sun with the rays falling over the edges of the table, and blue ribbons running around the legs)... as well as painting computer cases (can you tell we're a bit crafty/geeky?)...

I love painting so much though! Can't wait til I can get back into my oils though! They are so bright and vibrant I LOVE working with them.

[owensmom]

I do think oils are beautiful! They have a certain richness about them. I definately need some confidence boosters, not that I think my stuff is good enough for a gallery... but the owner is great and she has encouraged me. I feel like I don't know how other artists paint or work - do I paint too fast or too slow? Should I take more time on aspects of my work? Some people have a style or theme - but I paint totally different things. Well, I guess mostly landscapes, but differently. I don't know what I mean!!!!

So do you use gouache like watercolor? Like, mine came in litle tubs (like film canister size). Do I scoop it out into like a watercolor pallette and use water and paint like that?

I find myself longing to paint more and more - stayed awake last night thinking about it!

[fraya]

My gouache paint came in tubes, like watercolor paints. I wonder if yours are already diluted? I've seen some watercolor in tubs that's already diluted. Or jars, anyway. I do use watercolor paper for it, though. Remember that if you have lightweight watercolor paper, you'll need to 'wash' it and block it .. or just buy the blocks or the heavyweight paper.

You could try calling a local art store for more information. I don't remember where you're located ... out this way, the major chain is called Art Media. http://www.artmediaonline.com/

[owensmom]

I'm actually in Estacada - go to Art Media all the time! That is where I bought the gouache so I think I will give them a call!