Summertime studio & my first oil painting...

Here's a quick peek of my Summer studio space! I've been redecorating it to be pretty, inspiring and (most importantly) super functional for creating. 

Also, here is a peek at my first oil painting. I'm experimenting with a lot of new ideas right now and oil painting is one thing I've wanted to try for the past year. Anyone have tips for oil painting? (especially interested in solutions for eliminating the chemical smell... or is that just part of the process?)

Fun news--- Starting tomorrow, June 1st, I'll be listing new paintings every single day for a month! The collection includes both huge statement pieces to teeny-tiny original works. New pieces are done in Oil, Acrylic, Gouache and Water Colors. 

I think I'm going to spend my first day of summer in my new studio. How are you going to spend yours? 

XO. e

Comments

[sara f]

your studio is so awesome!
and i love this new lovely painting. great job with the oil :D

[Liz]

Love that panda girl painting!

[sarah]

Searching for the creative girl that was lost somewhere on the road of life.

[amela]

i love your studio! especially the deer and your painting is just wonderful

love from amelia of la ville inconnue

[Heidi Mansion]

I like to use Turpenoid Natural. Not so harsh! Good luck with the painting.

[Stephanie]

Your studio is so cute!

[ashley g]

water based oil paints! It seems wrong but they exist. it's all I used in painting class

[erin]

I agree with the turpenoid natural ...it's way better. Also, I've never tried water based oil paints but I bet it would help. Good luck, oil is more time consuming but you can blend way better with it and the colors are soo rich!

[Kiley]

i use grumtine . it smells like oranges and actually makes the smell of oil painting quite pleasant and more enjoyable. oils are perfect for precise painting, i for your style of work i would use it for larger concept pieces. good luck! it takes some getting used to!

[Lindsay]

oh my goddness panda painting!! It was meant for me!!!!!!!! Are you going to sell it by chance? :P
xoxo,
Lindsay

[Cat]

love the oil painting! I just tried oil painting for the first time a few weeks ago but I used a palette knife and mine didn't turn out as good. Still fun though! :)
xo
Cat

[Elsie]

thanks for the advise! i'm gonna try the natural turpenoid.

lindsay, i'm definitely selling this girls.. as soon as she dries. maybe in a week or two?

XO.

[spencer]

oooh such a cute studio... I spent the first day of summer (and the first sunny day in portland in awhile) with my feet hanging out my second story window reading a clothbound edition of pride and prejudice.

[Nicole]

Love the painting! I'll be spending the first day of summer getting ready for one of my best friends to visit!

[Holley]

That panda girl painting is beautiful! I love the little changes you made to your style in it, it looks incredible!

[sara]

i am not a painter [yet?] but The Husband likes to open up the vials of oils and such at the art store to smell them and remember when he was a kid and his dad used to paint...so i don't know if you can ditch the fumes, but maybe some nice memories will be made with them?

[Lindsay]

Elsie,
check your facebook message from me please please!! :)
xoxo,
Lindsay

[jes]

some oil paints that don't smell as bad are Utrecht oil paints and if you want the oil paint to dry a little faster and it also helps if you want to do glazing use liquin i think thats how you spell them i hope this helps.

[andie librandi...]

oh my word...gouache paint!?!?!? that stuff made me want to change my major in college! haha! i had put those memories way way out of my mind. hehe! hope you had better luck using it than i ever did! can't wait to see your new paitings! how fun!

xoxo andie...

[tiffany.]

cute outfits on the forms!!! :))

xo.