Back to Paint: A $6 Spark and a Sketchbook Hour

A few weeks ago I was browsing instagram and saw a fellow artist I follow take an in person oil painting workshop. The workshop looked really interesting so I went and clicked on the details of said workshop. I haven’t been drawing as much lately because teaching has insured so much of my energy. By the time I come home I’m clocking into my second shift. Time with my daughter, time with my husband - there’s barely time left over for me. I often remind myself the days are long but my my the years they are so so short.

This morning I woke up early due to my daughter waking up and asking for milk. So I got up and gave her some. It was still 5:30 am. She eventually drifted back off to sleep allowing me to take in more information about this artist. An add popped up from Alai G and it said free workshop and replay. I added my email just to see what it was about. I first watched this webinar thanks to the early rise from my daughter and then took a trip to Michael’s. One this Alai mentions in her webinar is to not feel as though your wasting paints. Use the cheap stuff to make studies. And even after you make a study, if you find that you want to frame the painting you worked on, get beautiful frames from IKEA.

I took my daughter out to breakfast to try out Panera breads egg soufflé’s. My daughter is really big on textures in her mouth and hands. She was of course grossed out by the green and brown colors. She was adamant about wanting a chocolate chip cookie, I was steadfast on you have to try new foods. She was definitely hungry because initially I had to run to the bank to deal with an mis-deposit of my check and I told my husband to hold off giving her anything. I figured it would be easier to get her to eat if she was already hungry.

Anyway, all this lead us to going tot he art store. Keeping in mind I have lots of art tools, I decided to go with affordable. I purchased six dollar oils. I already have solvents and mediums at home. And man oh man I rewatched the webinar. My heart is full. I could make some adjustments to this but I love how everything has turned out.

I was able to take this hour and really make something fun in my sketchbook. I have an under sketch with pencil. A top wash of white acrylic paint. And did the top with the $6 dollar oil paints I picked up from Michaels.

I found that this class was mostly about color theory. Alai talks about how she was rejected from getting her masters but in University she studied physics and fine art. Currently, she’s running an online special for an 18 plus hour course. I’m sure it’s a lot of information but I also wonder how much of it is necessary. I think back to oh mar win’s blog and how it took her some mulling over to take a course called make art that sells. Sometimes I wish I could just take courses and give feedback ack for other artists. Make and earn money from that. I’m sure someone out there does.

This wasn’t just about the art supplies — it was a reminder that my creativity doesn’t need perfect conditions. It just needs space. I’m holding onto that this week.

Yesterday I saw Amanda Oleander on Instagram mentioning a new workshop with Lauren Alexander — two artists I deeply admire. We met back in 2022 at Amanda’s Palm Springs workshop, and now they’re hosting again in Texas. I’m not sure if I can make it with everything on my plate, but I’m dreaming on it.

In the meantime, I’m learning what I can online — diving into Skillshare classes, and maybe even investing in that color theory course from someone who studied physics. I loved that detail. It reminds me how varied our creative paths can be.

One moment that stuck with me: Amanda said her mother-in-law, also an artist, is now making a living from her art in her 60s. That gives me hope — that it’s not too late, that the love of art can stretch across generations. My daughter has taken to arts and crafts lately. I’m thinking a little trip to Five Below for slime and markers might buy me another hour of sketchbook time this week.