An Opportunity Opened Me to Oils Again

My gelato oil painting from the
introduction to oils lesson in
Dreama Tolle Perry's "Flow" class.

Three years ago I temporarily gave up watercolors and embarked on a oil painting journey. I had experienced a watercolor meltdown (yes, it's a thing) during a plein air vacation, so I spent the last day watching a fellow painter render a scene in oils. WHOA, oils are so much more forgiving than watercolors! OK, so I bought myself some oil paints, new gear, read some books and dabbled a bit, then signed up for a three-day plein air oil painting class with a famous local artist. Then I promptly gave up oils. They are messy and thick, and it's impossible to pull a nice watercolor wash with them (duh).

John F. Carlson recommends in his famous landscape painting book to start your painting career with oils and to not touch watercolors for at least a year. Too bad I hadn't read that ten years ago. And John Singer Sargent said that to paint watercolors is to "make the best of an emergency." Both of these thoughts were on my mind when an opportunity to sign up for a different kind of art instruction opened up...Dreama Tolle Perry's "Flow."

So I took the plunge, and I'm so happy I did. Dreama is the kindest instructor, and she makes you think you can do anything. I love her palette and approach to oils, and I'm finally having some fun with my creativity. She's tamed the messiness of oils to a manageable level. She has an introduction to oils section for those who are new to the medium, with instruction for a gelato painting. My first oil painting in three years!

But there's something else I'm getting from her Flow class that was unexpected, and I'm just tickled pink. She's also a watercolorist, a writer and thinker, and I can so relate to all of that. I knew we were simpatico when I looked at her favorite books listing; I've read about 80% of the books she recommends, and some are my favorites, too. Her writing is especially speaking to me right now, during this time of Covid and as I try to find my own voice as an artist. She is kind and thoughtful, and she's all about finding the joy in life. Yes, joy! That's what I want.

And I'm finally starting to find it. My goal is to do one of her lessons, then set up my own original photo/scene based on hers and paint that, too.

I encourage you to read some of her writings on her website.

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Becoming an Artist

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