Are there any oil painting enthusiasts?

I haven’t used oil paints for years. I have an unopened box that DH bought me some years ago - not even sure if they would be any good now. But I have never seen water soluble ones and have just looked them up. I would be interested to know what the drying time is for them - one of the biggest problems with acrylic unless you use an inhibitor.

I'm a dauber rather than a painter but I do love the smell and texture of oil paints. However I am thinking of trying water-mixable oils especially as I want to do more open air painting as I have heard that they dry more quickly and I would prefer to carry water with me instead of turps. Has anyone tried them and if so have you any tips?

Mostlyharmless, that is a really clever painting. It should go on a wall. Lazigirl, no I have never charged anyone for a painting. My relatives and friends have them all over their walls! I love doing it. However, I have been guilty of removing paintings under protests that I suddenly realised were not good enough and were driving me mad. BBbevan, do hope you find something in the day. If you are like me I work much better in the day and it is becoming a chore going out in the evening.

I might research that Luckygirl. And I do have the qualifications to teach a class. Don't know about the stripping off though. Might frighten more than the horses?

That's a pity BB. Am lucky there is a weekly daytime drop in here - no tuition - but model organised, and similar weekly on a different evening. If you can get a venue and a few interested people and models you could organise? We pay £6 each for 2 hours which covers venue and model. Mind you the organiser strips off when model doesn't turn up!! (Not often)

Lazigirl I do life drawing also. I did all the usual at art school but loved life drawing and continued to do it afterwards. I did go to an excellent class but since moving have found nothing in the area. Which is a shame. There is a local art school but it is a half hour drive away and classes are in the evening. I will keep looking though

I love your portraits Lovetopaint. Do you do it professionally? I do life drawing (nudes) but will spare you all as don't know how to copy/link on here!

No Greyduster it's an oil painting using brushes (took ages), but I can see what you mean about paint pouring. I did try a sort of marbling effect by floating oil paint onto the surface in one place.
I have experimented a little with acrylic and oil paint pouring on different paintings though which is fun, if a bit unpredictable.

mostlyharmless is that blue one an example of acrylic pouring technique (I have been looking at that recently) or is it freestyle?

Great portraits Lovetopaint.

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My attempts:

We were up in the loft bringing down the decs and DH came across an oil painting I did some years ago - I don’t work in oils these days, just watercolour. I thought it was quite good for a few years and then started to find fault with it, so took it off the wall. I had already ruined one painting by trying to ‘improve’ it, so this one just ended up in the loft. I might try and find a little space for it again.

I can't paint for toffee but I love playing around with paints and bright colours. My only real success was a 'portrait' of my much loved teddy bear that I did when my DC were small. They still think it's great, bless them. My DD bought me some paints and crayons to get me going again - that's my NY's resolution! In the meantime I take pleasure in enjoying other people's work, looking and learning about historical works and watching Landscape Artist of the Year

They are lovely. I had lessons in drawing and oil painting in Spain but have failed to find a class I can afford here in London.

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It’s working. Now I am getting carried away. How about some flowers!

Another go!

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Aha! I selected a photo but it hasn’t appeared. I will now select another. Here goes

I paint in oils, acrylics and watercolour. I have lots of paintings that mean something to me as they have depicted my family over the years or places we have been to. They are all very personal.