Unlike the past few weeks, this week I spent most of my time painting. I am currently working on 3 paintings (1 oil, and 2 acrylics) and am coming up with an idea for a 4th. It was really interesting working with oil paint at school for a couple of days and then going home to work with acrylics. The materials and painting process are both very different from each other. The paintings that I have been working on with acrylics (ones inspired by A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Three Graces (Raphael), and At the Seaside) are all originally done in oil. My time with oil paint is limited because it is a difficult material to work with at home. Therefore, if I could go back or change something about my project, it would be working more with oil paint. I do wonder how the paintings that I have completed would look (Would they look the same or different? More or less accurate? Would the painting process be easier if it was completed with the original material?). As I continue my project I think about my use of materials and how I am painting my pieces.

Adding on to my experience and thoughts on working with oil and acrylic paints, one thing that was challenging this week was my work with acrylics.  I got very used to oil paint remaining wet (which is easier to work and blend) and later found myself struggling when my acrylic paints would dry. While going back over a certain part of the painting that was dry would make it seem a little blotchy or not blended well, it would also sometimes be difficult to color match. Though it usually ends up working out and I find a color that is relatively close to the one I was working with, I found it difficult not being able to save my paints. It is important for me to remember what colors I am mixing in order to match my painting. As I continue to switch between oils and acrylics, I will remind myself that I am working with two very different materials – that my process in terms of painting and mixing will not be the same. By keeping this in mind, I will hopefully be able to produce paintings that I am satisfied with (whether they are made with the original material or not).