Oil painting!

I have never had the desire to work with oil paints, maybe because it was the drying time that turned me off.  Maybe because I knew that all the Masters painted in oils and it was very intimidating.   I started out with acrylics probably because that's what my mom paints with plus sometimes she gives me her extras.  Most of my first brushes were from her also (she calls them her "scruffy brushes").  So I started out in acrylics.  Then a few years ago I decided I wanted to teach myself watercolors so I checked out books at the library, bought books online and practiced.  I loved watercolors.  Just about a week ago I decided that I wanted to try oil paints.

I have always been a big fan of Georgia O'Keeffe.  I have a board on Pinterest of some of her work here. Most of her paintings are extreme close ups of flowers just like a lot of my photography.  So that's where I started, books from the library on oil painting and my photography pictures.  My favorite flower is the black-eyed susan so I found a picture and started sketching.

Start with the lightest color first

Then the darker colors and here is the finished product

Before this one was completely finished I started sketching my second one, two little Amish children watching the horse auction in Lancaster, PA.  I took this picture last year among  hundreds of others so I think I may do an Amish series.  Anyone that knows me knows I am slightly obsessed with the Amish (and I'll be going up there again this year, I can't wait!)