My Oil Painting Era

I came across this photo this morning - I'm not sure if it is the original from which I copied or if it is one of my paintings. The picture hung in the beauty salon I owned back in the 70's when I was into oil painting. Your G'ma Ruth loved the picture so it was only a matter of time before I copied it in oils for her. I painted another copy for my friend, Opal, also. I could never find a signature on the original, so I never knew who to credit. Your G'ma had her painting hanging in her bedroom and it was given to her hairstylist before G'ma moved to the assisted care facility. This woman was always so good to G'ma Ruth and always went "the extra mile" for her. I hope that it is as special for her as it was for G'ma.

70's Oils

Here are a couple of my oils that I painted back in the 70's. I sold both of them and wish I had them back, although, I don't know where I would hang them if I had them !!! The "Old Prospector" was one I painted because I just loved the look of the old man in a photo in a magazine. A good friend and neighbor, Opal, saw it when it was finished and framed, fell in love with it and told me she would pay whatever price I set. I thought I set a price higher than she would pay, but, not so. It still hangs in her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The nude was a commissioned piece - some friends, John and Jodi, wanted a painting to hang in their bedroom and hadn't been able to find anything they liked. They gave me a photo they found in a magazine, liked what I did with it and purchased my painting. I have lost touch with them over the years-- hopefully, they still treasure it !! The small "Watermelon Pickles" is a copy of a still life painting I liked. It hangs in my kitchen in a collage collection of two other paintings and treasures. I often think about how much I enjoyed oil painting, but, have no desire to pick up a brush these days -- I am loving the altered arts !!!

The Old Mill Stream

This is one of the last oil paintings of mine, painted back in the 70's during my "artistic period" !! The scene came from a postcard photo. My friend and fellow hair stylist, Merilan, had started taking painting lessons from a local artist in Tulsa and I thought, "If she can do it, I can do it", so I enrolled in Betty's classes. Her technique was called "the old master's method". I had always thought I had absolutely NO artistic ability, but surprised myself with the paintings I ended up doing. I even had a couple of commissioned works, plus, sold a few otherwise. I had thought about going back to painting in my retirement days, but, my grand-daughter invited me to a class where we made a journal. I was off and running into the altered art world !!