oil begins

After much reading, I discovered that solvents and stink when oil painting is a myth.  Solvent is 100% optional and all we really need is the paint.  The paint is just pigment and oil - flaxseed oil like the stuff we eat, only with more filtering and fewer additives.  

One can even use oil for most of the brush cleaning.  Although soap and water help for long term storage.

 

So I thought why not spend a summer (because it was summer when this happened) morning in the garden playing with pretty colours.  

Well... not bad for a first unguided painting.  There is a lot more work to do on it once this layer dries.  Also, I need to learn more about composition.  But still, it turned out kind of cute.