Thursday, January 20, 2011

Painting Pregnantly


Jenn asked me about painting with oils while pregnant.  It would take electric shocks and some time on the rack to get me to switch over to acrylics.  Fortunately for me, I already use walnut oil alkyd medium (by M. Graham) in place of liquin or another toxic medium.  I also clean my brushes in walnut oil, so very seldom do I break out the turp.  Walnut oil is so non-toxic, you could drink it.  (I don't recommend it, maybe in a salad dressing.)  Other than that, I try to keep paint off my skin and out from under my fingernails.  (I am fairly tidy, if I do say so.)  I do use liquin to seal off a painting, and a spray varnish, which are both harmful to feti.  I always go outside to use these and I wear a mask.  (At all times, not just when I am in the family way.)  If you have been using liquin it takes some adjusting.  You use a lot less walnut alkyd, too much makes your paint dry shiny and plastic-y.  I have been using walnut for four years, and glad for it.  (I'm rather sensitive to chemicals.)


Thursday, January 13, 2011

Little Kings

I finished this painting just before Christmas.  Little Kings was commissioned by these two brother's mom. It was a cute story and dang cute little boys.
  I often am asked if I ever paint boys.  For one thing, I don't have any boys around, just lots of little girls.  For another, most of my paintings are autobiographical in content, and there is no little boy side of me that I feel I need to represent.  I took on this challenge before I was in the family way, now I am thinking about the possibility of having a little boy around and what could come of that.  Hey, stranger things have happened.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Sunday Drawing

A king and a prince.  I have way too much fun teaching primary.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Twenty-Eleven

New Year's resolution: Make more progecs.  
Magic words, "Let's do a project."  Hardly anything could make my little girls happier.  Especially when there are glitter glues and sequins involved.  Special thanks to Aunt Lorelie for the shiny and glittery paper.  Hope your new year sparkles.