Vanishing Act in Black and White
oil painting, gold leaf on canvas, 2 panels,
each 24 x 36 inches
2010

I have been wanting to switch from acrylics to oil paints and this is my first oil painting. I was very pleased with the whole learning curve and still have lots to learn about how the paints and mediums and oils all work. It is so much more pleasing to work with, except for the long drying time when the piece is finished. The fact that the paint is not drying on the brush as the brush approaches the canvas is what really gets me excited and I feel it allows my work to much more mature.

After this piece and the second Houdini piece on next page, I have devoted the last 6 weeks or so to researching and launching figurativeartist.org site which is a very exciting neighbourhood to wander around with over 200 figurative fine artists and fine artisans working in every different style, medium and approach you can think of. Check it out...

I hope to be back in the painting studio by end of May after a little trip to France to enjoy some pain au chocolat.

Paula O'Brien accepts commissions for expressive portrait paintings and figurative art.