As usual I haven’t gotten nearly as much time as I would like to work on my art. When I say that I mean hours upon hours every day. I really can turn into quite the recluse when I get involved in a project, so much so that sometimes when I make plans during the week with friends I feel like I haven’t gotten to work enough. This week however, I didn’t get enough painting done because I have been experimenting with some new mediums, which I will share as soon as I have something to show for myself.

This painting you may recognize from my past post. It seems like it has been on my easel for ages, and I am determined to get it finished in the next few weeks. I have so many other ideas floating around in my head that I really want to get started on. One thing I greatly miss about oils is because of the prolonged drying time I was forced to work on multiple pieces at the same time. I am though starting to remember some of the advantages (if you can call them that!) of working with the acrylic paints.

The past few years my hobby of choice (well, besides blogging of course!) has been painting. Some of you may remember over the Summer when I was challenging myself to complete a painting a week. I quickly abandoned that challenge after finding out I was pregnant. The reason for this is because I paint in oils and the fumes from the chemicals are just not good for the little lady in my belly. If I want to do any painting I have to work in acrylics, which has been extremely difficult for me. Even after she is born I am going to continue to work in acrylics, at least until we move to a more well ventilated home.

When I first started painting I worked primarily in acrylics–just because I had been given some. After taking a painting class at the community college and trying out oils for the first time I switched, and haven’t until recently, looked back. Anyone who has painted with the two different mediums know how different the two paints really are. Oils are much more slow drying and allow maximum blending time, while it seems like as soon as the paint hits the canvas (or wood, as I am currently working on) it dries. I have really struggled getting back into acrylics, and I think this is mainly because my style and technique have changed so much over the past two years using oils.

Anyway, I am trying desperately to get back into the painting groove, and thought it would be fun to start sharing maybe once a week or so what I am currently working on. Here I am today working on a piece I started way back at the beginning of my pregnancy, and never got past the first layer of paint. I must say, although it is frustrating to use the paint I am working with, it really does just feel good to paint again.

Any other mamas out there have to give up or change their hobbies or activities while they were pregnant?