Trying to learn oil painting, using water mixable. Surgery date 16 October to remove breast cancer.

[LiberalLoner]

Really bad at this right now but letting myself have time and space to learn.

And trying to learn oil painting takes my mind off the cancer.

Thank you for looking and for any advice about oil painting. ❤️👩🏼?🎨

[Diamond_Dog]

1. LiberalLoner, I think your paintings are beautiful!

I had breast cancer surgery 15 years ago and I’m still here. 🙂. I know you must be nervous about it, but take it from someone who’s been there … you’ll get through it. If I had to do it again, I’d do it. Sure beats the alternative
.
Sending good healing vibes for a successful surgery and recovery.

[LiberalLoner]

4. Thank you so much for being so kind and reassuring me! I feel better! 🙂 I hope the

Cancer will stay away forever from you now! Fifteen years, that means you beat it I think!

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

[flying rabbit]

2. I think you are off to a good start

Let the painting take you where it wants, and enjoy the art journey.

[LiberalLoner]

5. Thank you so much!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[LoisB]

3. Those are both beautiful paintings. I don't think you need any advice. When I first started

painting with oil what I had to learn was to not have too much paint on my brush. I pray your surgery is 100% successful and your recovery swift. Sending you strength of The Universe for your journey.

[LiberalLoner]

6. Thank you so very much! ❤️❤️❤️ I do think I have been overloading my brush now that I

Think of it! There is so much to learn, but it’s fun! ☺️

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

[LoisB]

7. You are very welcome. Hugs.

[LiberalLoner]

17. ❤️❤️❤️

[AltairIV]

8. Nice paintings!

Thank you for sharing your paintings with us. They are both quite good. Will send positive thoughts and energy out to you. Stay strong!

[LiberalLoner]

12. Thank you so very much! ❤️❤️❤️

[orleans]

9. i have no advice to give you for your paintings

but i wanted to k&r the thread, and let you know i think the purple on the right makes the picture pop.
i like it

[LiberalLoner]

14. Thank you! ❤️ my eyes are always drawn to the mountains, I am from Montana so...

[orleans]

40. the mountains did stand out -- but, for me, the "pop" was the purple. (but i love purple! lol) nt

[LiberalLoner]

42. Oh, I do too! I was trying to paint cherry trees in blossom but I'm finding it challenging as can be

[bucolic_frolic]

10. They are very good and sign your works

Distinctively. Otherwise someone may usurp them. Plus they are worth more signed.

[pazzyanne]

13. Prayers for a safe surgery and quick healing, bucolic_frolic.

Painting is a great way to focus on positive outcomes. It relaxes you and allows you to go beyond the here and now. Have fun with your watercolors, and with your transition to oil painting. I find oil my beat medium, and a great past time.

[LiberalLoner]

43. Thank you so so much! ❤️❤️❤️ oil painting is a great medium, isn't it?

I’ve always loved oil paintings in museums and galleries, and I wanted so badly to paint in oils but I was so sensitive to solvents, they made me sick no matter what I tried, and I kind of gave up after awhile and felt very bad about having supplies sitting around then I wasn’t using.

When I discovered the medium W to make my paints water mixable….what a game changer! Now I am loving oil painting, no headaches or anything!

I am painting over old paintings I had tried to do before. Saves money on buying new surfaces.

Although canvas board surfaces and oil painting paper seem quite affordable, so I might let myself paint from scratch now and then.

I hope I will get better if I keep oil painting!

And boy what great timing to have discovered this new medium W while waiting for my surgery, because now I am thinking about painting in oils now, spending time painting, watching painting videos on YouTube (what a great source of instruction!!!) (if only I had had that resource all my life, how much I could have learned about art and many other topics!) instead of being anxious.

This is like a blessing having been bestowed on me by the universe or something!

[LiberalLoner]

15. Oh, thank you so much! I saw these as throw aways tbh so didn't even think about signing! ❤️

[bucolic_frolic]

20. We're pulling for you!

[LiberalLoner]

44. Thank you so very much! ❤️❤️❤️

[dlk]

11. Your paintings are lovely

Creative expression is good for the soul. I wish you well.

[LiberalLoner]

16. Thank you so very much for your kindness ❤️❤️❤️

[dlk]

18. Anytime 😊

[LiberalLoner]

45. Thank you so so much! ❤️❤️❤️

[samplegirl]

19. Those are so beautiful

Stuck with it. It’s healing and cathartic. You will be in my prayers.

[LiberalLoner]

37. Thank you so very much! ❤️❤️❤️

[MuseRider]

21. Those are gorgeous!

Really, you do not look like a beginner to me.

Art and music are the very best ways to take your mind where it should not go and give you the loving, peaceful feelings you need to care for yourself and send that cancer away.

[LiberalLoner]

38. Thank you, that's very kind of you! I agree, art and music are healing....❤️❤️❤️😢

[Lonestarblue]

22. I can't believe you're a beginner! Those look amazing.

I have a friend who quite serious breast cancer surgery and treatment more than 20 years ago now. She has taken several medications over the years that help keep it from recurring, but she is healthy today. I’m wishing you the same outcome.

[LiberalLoner]

46. Oh, wow, thank you! I did try oil painting before. And I guess did some paintings, but the

Solvents just got to me and I had to give up. I haven’t done many paintings at all so I feel I’m very much still a beginner. But thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️

Oh I am so glad your friend beat the C monster and is still here!

My cancer masses are HER -, and strongly (over 90%) estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, so I am thinking I will be placed on those same endocrine drugs. But we will see, after my surgery, what the genetic testing says. They have so many advanced things today in medicine.

In my Mom’s day, back in 1970 when she had breast cancer, I don’t think they even had mammograms or anything, and they just got her into surgery and did a radical mastectomy, and gave her cobalt radiation treatments after. I remember the big scar she had and how her skin looked sunburned for a few months. I was 8. It had already spread to the lymph nodes and muscles and the doctor said she’d be gone within the year, but she beat it. Died thirty years later of a heart attack. Cancer never came back.

So I am telling myself I will be like my Mom and beat this cancer too.

[Duncanpup]

23. Beautiful

And hugs to you

[LiberalLoner]

47. Thank you so so so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️ for everything. You are very kind ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[joelg]

24. Oils

A great start. I have a BFA in painting and printmaking and MFA in painting. Advice...use oils, but with turpenoid natural to clean up, linseed oil as a thinner is the best. Eliminate black from your palette and be judicious with white. Darken with cooler analogous colors and lighten with warmer. Use opposites to make shadows and doing so treat brown as yellow ( darken with purple). Good brush strokes, careful not to make trunks too thick. Lager works are more forgiving, too large can be too daunting at this stage.

[LiberalLoner]

48. Oh gosh thank you for your kind encouragement! ❤️❤️❤️ I feel like I got a gold star from my

Art professor, now! Thank you! 😍👩🏼?🎨

Wow, I’d love to see your work, do you have a website you feel comfortable sharing? i know it’s best to remain anonymous on sites though so please ignore me if my request is improper. 🙏

I knew by the time I was 14 and saw my peers in art class doing better work than me and learning faster than me, that I didn’t have the natural ability that would let me have a career in art.

But it’s remained a nice hobby to have throughout the years, when I’ve had the time and inclination. I think it is a lovely hobby that enhances the lives of everyone who pursues it.

But you were a real artist, because it takes a lot of ability to earn even one degree in art let alone two! When I hear that, I think of someone on the level of Marla Baggetta, I think she had a similar education? Can’t remember now. Anyway I love love love love her work. She’s a real artist! When I look at her art, I try to resist the thought that I will never be nearly as good, so why try, and replace that thought with a feeling of wonder about what can be accomplished in art…and I let myself dream.

I tried oil painting before but the solvents got to me, even the expensive lavender one. Headaches and nausea after an hour or two.

I just couldn’t figure out how to work without solvents, until I learned about Medium W recently. Game changer! No solvents! Just soap and water to clean brushes! And just inexpensive synthetic brushes so I don’t have to worry too much when I wear a brush out or when it starts to splay.

Now, I wonder about how archival it will end up being. Because I don’t think they’ve had this water mixable oil paint thing all that long, that I know of.

Oh and I did an experiment, was curious just to see. Took about 1/4 Dawn dishwashing soap to 3/4 blob of oil paint, mixed it. Looked very matte, like acrylics, but cleaned up easily in water. Probably, surely, not archival. But I wanted to know if it would work, and it did, basically.

Great advice about the white and the black.

I did take one oil painting class in college, needed some fun and not just the boring classes. And at that time fifty odd years ago, they had flake white. I remember really loving that flake white and I miss it now.

I did a portrait type painting in that class, and I remember loving that flake white for the portrait I was doing, felt like it made the skin look like it was glowing, when I added it to the mix. I can’t see titanium white ever making anything glow.

Seems to me it didn’t make things as chalky as titanium white does. There’s zinc, but I’ve heard there are problems with that one.

Then black…yeah…too tempting to reach for that to darken all the colors. I do like it mixed with yellows though, seems to make a nice olive green color.

But generally, yeah, I will avoid that color killing black on my palette!

One of my biggest problems in art is, I never became very good at drawing. They always say, just practice, you will get better at it. Pffft! Not me. Thank god for the grid method and other cheats like that.

And I struggle with composition, but I figure that one is a learning process for every artist and I hope I might get better over time.

Oh I have written a book!

Thank you so much again for the encouragement, great advice, just everything! ❤️❤️❤️

[Rebl2]

25. I really like

the one on the right. I love the colors you used! Thanks for sharing. Will keep you in my thoughts.

[LiberalLoner]

49. Thank you so so much! ❤️❤️❤️

[cyclonefence]

26. Great paintings

Are you sure you're just learning? I took an oil class a long time ago to try to learn the mechanics of did you clean your brush between colors, or have a different brush for each color or what? The instructor was a pro and looked at me like I was crazy. I hope you'll stick with this and maybe answer some questions I have.

And, of course, best of luck with your surgery. I've been there (twice) and it's no picnic ("why are my tits trying to kill me?) but I bet you'll do fine. You have a lot of support here at DU, and while we can't bring you soup and cookies, we can cheer you on--so Yay You!!!

[LiberalLoner]

50. Oh my goodness I am sorry you had this twice, but glad you beat it and are still here,

I hope and pray it never comes back and you live a very very long and very very happy life from now on!

That made me laugh, yeah, my tits are trying to kill me 🤣🤣🤣

I think I have defective genes, all the women in both sides of my family got cancer, usually breast cancer. But all of them beat the breast cancer so I believe I will, too!

Thank you so much for your kind encouragement and well wishes! ❤️❤️❤️

Oh about oil painting…I’ve discovered water mixable oil paints recently and what a game changer it is! No solvents! And when I want to use a different color, no lengthy hassle trying to clean my brush. Just swish in water, dab on paper towel so the brush isn’t too wet, and grab that next color!

So far I’ve been painting over old canvases I had lying around from when I tried oils before and gave up due to solvents making me feel sick.

But I think I will buy new canvas panels as they are pretty affordable, at least in the smaller sizes. I can slap another coat of gesso on those and they will be good to paint on.

Or I can buy oil painting paper, which is affordable too.

Oh and I read on one artist website, I put the link down somewhere in all these replies, where an artist suggested buying Manila folders, a hundred at a time, super cheap, cut them in half and then coat with shellac or gesso or PVA glue and you have two hundred surfaces to paint on for practice!

I thought that was pretty clever!

But I’m a real believer in these water mixable oil paints, if a friend came to me and wanted to start oil painting, I’d say, buy oil mixable paints.

Thank you again so much!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[cyclonefence]

66. Water-mixable oil paints? Am I dreaming?

Those sound fabulous, and just what I need (should I take up painting again). Truly, the mechanics of how to clean your brushes when you want to change color was really all I wanted that guy to teach me, and like I said, he looked at me like I was crazy. At the time, I lived in New Hope PA, which is just slopping over with artists, and this guy was one of the brand-names at the time--he lived, not in a house, but a "croft," which will give you some idea...

Anyway, I had some paintings (due to friendship with his widow) by one of the real New Hope artists, who work sometimes still come to market, and a couple we inherited from my husband's great-aunt, who used to go to Farmer's Club with this lady--we sold a painting of hers (no place to hang it out of the sun) for $45,000 about ten years ago, so I wasn't afraid to quit this guy's course, and I haven't seen any of *his* paintings for sale lately, so there's some kind of revenge, or something.

Right now, I draw with pencils. I took a course at Tyler, in Philadelphia, which *did* teach me basic stuff, which *did* help, and I love it.

Now to breast cancer: Do what the doctors tell you. I had cousins-in-law advising me to drink bleach--don't do that. Oh, yeah, and cancer is just another yeast infection, according to these gals, so that should be no problem.

You are sassy, and cancer hates sassy, so you'll scare that bastard away! BTW, I found that I looked so good bald (not that you'll necessarily lose your hair, but if they give you the good stuff, you will) I continued to shave my head for several months after it started growing back in! And no more underarm and leg hair. Get some big earrings. Keep in touch.

[2naSalit]

27. You're off to a pretty good start!

Those look better than anything did in oil before I gave up on that medium. It does require a stable lifestyle which I don't seem to have, can't keep all the things that go with it.

The colors are nice, you'll get better at this, we can tell.

[LiberalLoner]

51. Thank you so so much for your kind encouragement, ❤️❤️❤️

And I bet you were way better than me!

And I hope you are granted a stable and peaceful life soon. I’m from Montana, lived in Missoula and Kalispell as a kid, have relatives who have Salish heritage and live on Flathead Lake, and my Mom lived in Helena before she died….I feel like I still kind of know Montana, still feels like home. And I know how hard it is to make a living there and how there are problems with addiction and so on that keep haunting my home state.

It’s Montana that made me want to do art. I wished so much I could capture and hold on to all that beauty I was seeing. Always changing, always beautiful. And the mountains always watching over me like angels.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[2naSalit]

61. Definitely this...

...I wished so much I could capture and hold on to all that beauty I was seeing. Always changing, always beautiful. And the mountains always watching over me like angels.

That's why I live here. Sadly, it's becoming too expensive to live here for anyone who isn't comfortable set financially or super rich. I don't know what I'm going to do but I am considering leaving again, that's twice in two years so I guess I need to think about that issue again. There are many beautiful places, I just have to find one that has a low human population where I can afford to have more than a couple hundred feet between me and the dwelling in all directions.

Everything you left behind, most of it is still here with additions.

Things will change, I hope for the better.

[LiberalLoner]

62. I hope you will be able to stay in Montana and

That better times will come to you soon. ❤️🙏

[2naSalit]

63. Thanks.

It's only in the thought process right now. I hope that things go well for you. I find it interesting how serious information can have an ill affect upon our thinking, that's kind of where I'm at right now.

Meanwhile, I'm contemplating a real quick trip to assist a friend with something and come right back before the end of the month. We both think I need a change of scenery, a couple days will do. Probably what I need most right now and the travel is free.

[LiberalLoner]

64. 🤗🤗🤗🤗❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[lucca18]

28. Love your paintings LiberalLoner!😍❤️

They are beautiful!
Keep painting!

Sending you positive thoughts.
Stay strong!
❤️😍

[LiberalLoner]

52. Thank you so so much! ❤️❤️❤️

[TNNurse]

29. 11 year breast cancer survivor.

Had single mastectomy without reconstruction, since I had a little metastasis. It was tough, but I am still here.

Distractions are good.

Please check in and let us know how you are doing.

[LiberalLoner]

53. Oh gosh I am so sorry you went through that 😭 but I am glad you are alive and I hope

So much it will never ever return.

Yeah if it comes back I will do what you did and then also stay flat. I’m 62, no reason for me to be all picky about my appearance, and better to play it safe.

The doctor felt partial mastectomies made the most sense in my case. Two separate IDCs in my left, one atypical ductal hyperplasia on the right. I would have gone for total mastectomies but the doctor said I wouldn’t be any safer, so might as well go with the less severe surgery.

Did you have a lot of pain afterwards?

The doctor said my pain would be easily managed with otc but I don’t know if she was saying that because it’s really true or if she was saying that because doctors don’t like to give the strong stiff anymore due to the addiction crisis.

So I’m trying to ask people who have gone through it so I know how bad the pain will be. People have said it’s not as painful as healing from a hysterectomy so that made me feel better.

Thank you again so very much and also thanks for the encouragement!
❤️❤️❤️

[shenmue]

30. Very pretty!

[LiberalLoner]

54. Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️

[bhikkhu]

31. One of my favorite cheap-and-easy ways -

is to keep an eye out at garage sales or discount stores for little frames with disposable prints or things in them. Then I get a 1/8th hardboard panel from the hardware store and acrylic-prime it. Unless you're using the paint really heavily, that holds oils just fine. You can cut pieces out of the panel to fit the frames then. It's really nice to finish something and pop it in a frame, or to wonder if it's finished and pop it in the frame to see how it looks. I do a lot of big serious months-of-work stuff, but I still like to do little panels for something quick or to give away. Just last weekend I met up with an old friend and his wife, who I hardly see, and gave them a bright little frames landscape for their house. That feels nice.

I've never used water soluble oils myself, but they look nice in the pics, good work!

[luvtheGWN]

32. I'm a musician, not an artist,

so no advice to be given (but it looks as though you know what you're doing!). But I'm a 15-year bc survivor, and I have many friends who are more than that. So, here's to a successful surgery and follow-up, and to many, many years ahead to paint enough to cover all your walls!

[LiberalLoner]

55. Oh, thank you so so so much! ❤️❤️❤️ I am glad you beat the cancer and I hope it never returns,

And musicians are the coolest people in the world, by the way! 😍

Thank you for the kind encouragement! ❤️❤️❤️

[judesedit]

33. You are very talented, LiberalLoner. Sending positive vibes and prayers

for your successful surgery. Please keep creating and sharing. 👍 🙏🤞

[LiberalLoner]

56. Thank you so so so much! ❤️❤️❤️

[judesedit]

65. You're very welcome. It's much deserved.

[evolves]

34. Absolutely gorgeous, LL!

Really beautiful work. Hope you are getting into flow and enjoying the escape it offers.

I just passed my 20th anniversary of my breast cancer surgery-- there IS life after diagnosis. Sending you all the best in good thoughts and well-wishes!

[LiberalLoner]

58. Oh thank you so so much! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I am so glad you beat it, I will stay positive and believe

I can beat it too! And the surgery and treatments will be hard, but they will save my life so I will get through them.

Thank you again so very much! ❤️❤️❤️

[people]

35. They are both beautiful paintings!

Thank you for showing them. What a good thing to do now.

[LiberalLoner]

59. Thank you so so much! ❤️❤️❤️ yes I feel finding the water mixable and being able to go

Back to oil painting after having tried it and given up due to solvent fumes, to be a huge blessing the universe has given me.

Now I am thinking of oil painting all day, painting and then when I get tired, watching oil painting videos on YouTube, and I am not thinking of the cancer or the upcoming surgery and treatments!

So it lowers my anxiety way down.


Thanks again so much!
❤️❤️❤️

[Ocelot II]

36. Very nice! Both are lovely, I especially like the one on the right

because of the pink-purple accents. Keep up the great work!

[LiberalLoner]

60. Thank you so so so much!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[LiberalLoner]

39. I found an article that might be helpful for someone who might want to try oil painting

But prefers to keep the costs down a little bit.

https://www.masteroilpainting.com/artist-on-a-budget/

[bif]

41. Those are both beautiful!

And positive vibes heading your way!!!

[LiberalLoner]

57. Thank you so so so much, friend! ❤️❤️❤️❤️