Word of the Day

The word for today is "worldoiler."

Worldoiler; noun.

A worldoiler is a person who loves to travel the world and oil paint scenes from it: whether from life, picture, or book.  This person is adventurous and not a standard stay-in-a-Comfort Inn-and-act-like-a-tourist traveler, but rather someone who immerses themself in the culture, food, customs, and full experience of being wherever they are.  They usually are creative, unique, and love to explore off the beaten path.

Coolest hotel?

The absolute coolest hotel I ever stayed in was the Mirage in Las Vegas, NV.  Besides it's tiger habitat and having the best pool area out of all the Vegas hotels, I was fascinated by all the colors inside, the courtyards with trees, the huge aquariums, and the Beatles show that was appearing there at that time.  There was a walkway leading to it that changed different shades of the rainbow constantly.  Nevermind all the hustle and bustle and there being always something to do and people to watch, our room was upgraded to the top of the building and it's the most posh setting I've stayed in to date.  I'm talking a flatscreen, purple leather headboards, frosted countertops, geometric rug and bedspread patterns, and curvy lines.  A view down the Strip was seen out the window, and I never wanted to leave.

Most common vacation spot

Where have you been the most?  For me, again the answer is Myrtle Beach, SC.  I was there when I was four, seven, twelve, and sixteen.  I have varying memories of it: when I was seven I went to a Planet Hollywood for the first time and thought it was the coolest thing, and a hurricane kicked us out early so we made some stops in NC on the way home; when I was twelve I got stung by a jellyfish in knee-deep water and after getting a ring of blisters around my ankle, had to put a packet of powdery medicine on them and they were gone after ten minutes; and when I was sixteen, I was obsessing about a guy the whole time I was there.  I'll probably go back sometime, but right now I'm trying to go as many different places as possible and not repeat.  There's too much of the world to see.

First vacations

So, what was the first vacation you can remember taking?  Mine was when I was four and my parents and I drove down to Myrtle Beach, SC.  For anyone who hasn't been there, it's a really nice beach with a lot to do.  There's plenty of restuarants, mini golf, hotels, and attractions like Broadway on the Beach, to keep everyone entertained.  I remember my parents taking turns sitting in the backseat with me playing with stuffed animals, and getting a new Barbie swimsuit and little inflatable inner tube as a gift.  At the beach, we stayed in some sort of condo, and I was fascinated by the clear dishwashing liquid that I found under the sink...just the fact that it was clear like amazed me.  I remember my mom losing her shoe in a little stream and me wanting to save it and getting upset because she picked it up before I could, and being afraid of the ocean.  I'd cry when one of my parents went down to the ocean.  I don't know what I thought was going to happen to them.  My parents later told me I was obsessed with someone dressed up like a king at a mini golf place or something, and every night I'd say I wanted to go see the king.  I don't actually remember that, though.

My first painting

This is the first oil painting I ever did-the image I used is on the right. It's of the Serengetti in Africa.  It's not my best work at all, but as a beginner, this is a good start. You're just learning how to blend colors, so don't be upset if your first try doesn't come out better than mine did. Good luck!

You're ready to paint!

So when you finally have all your materials, and have drawn a subject on your canvas to paint from life, picture, or a book, head to a well-ventilated space (because the paint smells, and although it's not a bad or super strong smell, it's strongly recommended to be in a well-ventilated area) and set up. You might want to put newpaper under your work space. Pour oil mix in one of your little plastic cups and some Turpenoid in the other, and get a wet and dry paper towel. Put on thin disposable gloves (the paint isn't supposed to get on your skin) and squeeze small amounts of paint onto your palette. Dip your brush in oil mix to make the paint as thin as you want, and begin painting! To clean your brushes in between colors, dip them in the Turpenoid and wipe them off on the dry paper towel.  When you're done for now, wash your brushes with soap and warm water and wipe dry with a paper towel, cover the paint on your palette with plastic wrap, and put the lids on your oil mix and Turpenoid. A picture of my first painting is to come tomorrow.

Why do you travel?

While I learn how to upload photos to help you along in beginning to paint, let's talk about traveling.  When it often is time-consuming and expensive, why do you still love it and want to do it as much as possible?  Because you explore new places?  Because you're curious about different cultures?  Because you want to see as much of the world as you can?  Or is it simply because you need a break from the same-old and ordinary? 

Favorite Places to Paint

My favorite places to paint have been scenes in Africa and South America, mostly for the many colors.

Quotes :)

I'll weave some quotes in here occasionally, too. One of my favorites pertaining to painting and particularly surrealism (which he was famous for) was said by Salvador Dali: "The one thing the world will never have enough of is the outrageous."

A brief oil painting history

Just for any of you who would like a little bit of history, oil painting is the "process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil. Commonly used drying oils include linseed oil, poppyseed oil, walnut oil, and safflower oil. The oil may be boiled with a resin, such as pine resin or frankincense to create a varnish; often prized for its body and gloss. Different oils confer various properties to the oil paint, such as less yellowing or different drying times. Certain differences are also visible in the sheen of the paints depending on the oil. An artist might use several different oils in the same painting depending on specific pigments and effects desired. The paints themselves also develop a particular consistency depending on the medium.
Although oil paint was first used for the Buddhist Paintings by Indian and Chinese painters in western Afghanistan sometime between the fifth and ninth centuries, ^[1] it did not gain popularity until the 15th century. Its practice may have migrated westward during the Middle Ages. Oil paint eventually became the principal medium used for creating artworks as its advantages became widely known. The transition began with Early Netherlandish painting in northern Europe, and by the height of the Renaissance oil painting techniques had almost completely replaced tempera paints in the majority of Europe.
In recent years, water miscible oil paint has come to prominence, to some extent replacing the usage of traditional oils. Water soluble paints contain an emulsifier which allows them to be thinned with water (rather than with paint thinner), and allows very fast drying times (1–3 days) when compared with traditional oils (1–3 weeks)."

-Explanation courtesy of Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_painting

Picking a subject

So, once you have all your materials, how do you know if the subject you have chosen to paint is a good one for a beginner?  Maybe there isn't a right or wrong answer to this, but I definitely recommend nature scenes with many colors.  Skies at dawn or sunset are particularly good because they contain many colors blended together, and blending is very important to practice in oil painting.  Having many different shades in your subject will also give you the chance to practice mixing paint colors to develop the right shade. Personally, when I started oil painting, I did nearly every painting from a book I have called "Landmarks of the World," which gave me scenes of travel mixed with nature. It's a perfect way to start for someone who loves traveling, too.

Getting Started

For anyone that wants to try oil painting, getting started is fairly easy and doesn't require a visit to a niche art store.  All of the basic supplies needed can be purchased at Michael's craft store or another such store.  You will need:
                              -a canvas (available in a variety of dimensions and ususally square or rectangular in shape)
                              -a set of brushes (brushes can be bought packaged together in sets of five or six, and the size of each brush is different, giving you the basic sizes you need)
                             
                              -paints (small tubes that will be labeled as oil paints with silver metal screw-on lids)
                              -oil mix (this will be in a square tin-like container and clearly labeled. One brand has the Mona Lisa on the front of it. You will use this to water down and help mix the paints)
                              -Turpenoid (this is a non-toxic form of turpentine that you will need to clean your brushes)
                              -Small supplemental supplies like a good drawing pencil (for drawing on your canvas), a piece of cardboard covered in wax paper (for putting your paints on), a piece of plastic wrap (for covering your paints for later use), and small plastic containers with lids (for holding your oil mix and Turpenoid) are also needed.

                              -Finally, you will need whatever you are going to paint: a scene from life, a book with a scene, a picture, etc. This is the fun part!

*A word about gesso: it is a paint mixture that you need to apply to your canvas and let dry for at least a day before you start painting.  It acts as a binder for your paint.  Canvases sold in stores come pre-gessoed, so you don't have to worry about it.

Welcome :)

Since I was a very young, I've loved to travel, and when I discovered oil painting in my senior year of high school (not so very long ago), I thought it was a beautiful and unique way to capture a place.  I wish I had the time to paint from life everywhere I go, but since I don't, working from my pictures or from books I own works fine for me-and it can for you, too.  In this blog, I will share with you the basics of oil painting and how to get started, as well as experiences from the places I've visited and how to make your vacation memories last much longer than the trip. I'll also throw in travel facts, deals I find, tips, pictures, and quotes that will hopefully inspire you to explore the world, too.