There's a First Time for Everything

First post ever. 

I am nearly 35 years old and, in the past 6 months, have just figured out that painting is a passion I was not aware existed in my being. I draw a lot and doodle horses and flowers on everything but I had not a clue painting would be such a joy to me. 

With a full schedule, including part time work and fully time family (two young boys and my husband), I cannot afford, financially or time-wise, any kind of formal training. I would love to, but there are priorities that take precedence. 

I have been tipped off to Lesley Humphry's site, where she gives free lessons online and I plan to delve into that deeper when I have the funds to purchase more product, including oil paints, canvas and more brushes . . . 

Currently I'm painting with acrylic, mostly on cheap stretched canvas from Michael's craft, since that's what I can afford; cheap Michael's craft acrylic paint and any brush I can afford and find (even the large,very nice, house painting brushes my husband has stored away . . . I only managed to get away with that with two of his brushes before he caught me). :0) I also bought 140 lb watercolor paper, so I could just mess around and practice, but it is not my favorite to paint on. It takes a lot of water to make the paint useable on the paper . . . kind of like, well, watercolor. :) 

The first painting is on on paper. I don't care for my backgrounds, or nature stuff yet . . . but I like the color contrasts and the wind-swept feeling of it. I would love to replicate this on huge canvas . . . 50+ inches by 50+ inches . . . I think I would love that. :0) 

The second one is on stretched, cheap, canvas (22 in x 19 in, I believe) and I love the silver tone the background took on . . . as well as the freeness of the mane and mellow expression the horse possesses. I need to work on eyeballs and the detail of the face, but . . . its the 3rd painting I've ever done, ever. So, onward ho. 

I'm going to get good photos of the few more that I have and just keep a running blog on paintings as I paint them and finish them . . . the things I learn as I go, from trial and error, as well as from Lesley Humphry's site and other sources. My husband has informed me I cannot throw out any paintings or cover them up, to just keep them and learn from them . . . I had been getting disgruntled with one and just painting over it and starting over. Just for practice. :0)

I don't know what else to do with paintings, except share them, so here I go. :0)

Blessings!