oil painting feature image

My First Oil Painting in a Decade

topdogArt and Design

The last time I remember doing any oil painting was at least a decade ago. But last year I finally had some time to pick up the brushes and have a go at it once again.

Having spent the last few years doing a LOT of digital painting, it came as a hard realization that there would be no "Undo" button.

But I muddled through.

The canvas was one of many I have stacked in my studio. The Missus is always good about letting me know of art supplies to be found cheap at estate and garage sales. Most of my oil paints were purchased that way, and I've got enough to last for years of steady painting. As for canvas, I've got stacks of 8x10's, 11x14's, quite a few 16x20's, and several larger sizes. All of this I got at estate sales. I think in total I spent less than $200 for all of it.

They've all been sitting in my painting studio, patiently waiting for me to retire so I could spend more quality time with them.

This first effort was mainly an attempt to re-familiarize myself with the tools. To remember how to mix the paint, and recall some methods of brushwork.

I wanted to create a sense of depth and light, and I kept the object fairly simple: A mountain and canyon with a river. You can see the foreground is unfinished. There were going to be trees there rising up to the viewer, but I got pulled away on other things and had to set the painting aside.

All in all, even unfinished, it's not a bad first effort. I'm looking forward to doing a lot more of this in my spare time.

Canyon oil painting

Canyon #1 (oils, 11x14)

Steve in 2021
About the Author

Topdog is Steve Merryman, a retired graphic designer, illustrator, and unrepentant asshole. Steve can usually be found working on a portrait commission or some other artwork. Steve fills his days by painting, writing, shootin' guns, cuttin' trees, hiking with his dogs, and savoring a beer or two, all while searching for the perfect cheeseburger. He studiously avoids social media and is occasionally without pants.