Daily Painting No. 1 — Apple (Oil on Canvas Board, 6x6")

This is my very first oil painting.

I’ve painted in acrylics for over a year now, but oils feel like a completely different animal. Right now, it feels both exciting and awkward.

I’m starting this Daily Painting series as a way to loosen up, experiment, and overcome my inner perfectionist. Quick paintings like this apple tend to give quite a bit of a hard time. Any painting a make usually goes through an “ugly phase” (at least in my head). And even though I know that’s a normal part of the process, it still messes with my confidence sometimes. So this project is about staying with the discomfort, trusting the process, and just painting through it.

This approach removes pressure to make masterpieces. By doing this, I'm just committing to practice, curiosity, and the process itself.

I’ll be numbering each piece in this series, sharing the messy, honest journey of learning oils and just experimenting with whatever other mediums I choose that day.

My daily paintings will be available for purchase, once the paint dries.

Irina Patten is a visual artist and storyteller who explores creativity, inspiration, and the magic of everyday life. She shares reflections from her surroundings, her studio, and her journey, inviting others to reconnect with their own inner light and creative power. Discover more of her art and stories.