Art Jamming Pain

I tried Art Jamming back to 10 years ago, well before I started to paint.  In a social setting, people brought in reference photos to paint whatever they liked.  After the event, we all said "Oh! Painting is so much fun!"


After I touched my hands on oil painting, I have given another chance to join an art jam event.  The experience this time was totally different.  Since in art jam, I was given to use acrylic paint to paint a huge unprimed canvas (22"x48") which I never handled before.  My experience with the acrylic paint was a nightmare, it dried super fast when compared to oil paint and its plastic and sticky texture were difficult to manage.  After 4 hours struggled with the paint, I only got plenty of frustrations with an unfinished canvas.  Of course, it was their marketing strategy to ask you to purchase more painting hours!


But I didn't give in.  I brought the canvas home and continued to work on this huge painting project.  This time, I changed the medium to what I am more familiar of - oil paints.

I designed to install a window view for my tiny home.  After working for several nights, this painting project was completed!

Can you feel the wind is blowing to your face?  Can you feel how intense is the red of the poppy field?  I just love it!  After all, I can say again "Painting is so much fun!!"

Floral Painting

 

Like most of the people, when started learning oil painting, I was asked to paint many black and white still life to get used of the properties of oil paint.  Gradually, color was introduced.

I was somehow lack of patience.  I would keep asking my instructor when I could try painting something else.  But when the opportunity finally came, I found it was difficult to control the paints, the color, the texture.  Sometimes, the color became too muddy.  Sometimes, the paint became too thick and slippery.  I realised I was lack of the "color language" to paint.

There is no fast track, at least no for me.  Only with patience and practice, I can now get used of oil paint and am in love it!

Here are two beginner level floral paintings I've done in my painting journey.  After I learned to paint, I become more aware of still life, flowers and people around me.  Sometimes, I starred at things as if I need to paint them right away.  I love to see how's the color changed, how the light reflected on the subject...  Painting really enriched my life. :) 

"Hello Camellia" 11"x 14" Oil on Canvas

Before I painted a larger size, I started with a small study.  But then, I changed the background color to a more neutral one. 

Camellia Study, 8"x10" Oil on Canvas