Getting back into Oil Painting

With more than a little trepidation, I ventured into my local Gordon Harris in Christchurch (love you, Gordon Harris!) and declared that I’d like to get back into oil painting (after not touching oils since 2000!). I ended up spending more than planned on a beautiful collection of Schmincke Norma water‑mixable oils, a canvas or two, a couple of mediums, and some lovely brushes. (I’d love to meet someone who can stick to a budget in an art supply shop!) While I still don’t pretend to understand the science behind water‑soluble oils — my high‑school science brain says that’s an oxymoron — they’re gorgeous to use. I’m working toward a series of narrative still-life paintings over the next little while; in the meantime I’ve been getting back up to speed by painting a vase of dahlias from my garden.