My First and Only Oil Painting — A Lesson in Patience

In the summer of 2021, I made my first, and so far only, attempt at painting live objects using oil paint.

What you see here is a simple composition: a pineapple, a watermelon, a banana, an apple,. But behind this simplicity lies an experience that tested my patience in ways I had never encountered before.

Oil paint does not rush for anyone. It demanded that I slow down, layer carefully, and then wait… and wait. It took nearly a month for this piece to fully dry. For someone whose style is driven by spontaneity and instinct, that waiting felt almost unnatural.

Then there was the mess, the brushes, the mixing, the clean-up. It required a level of discipline and process that stood in sharp contrast to the freedom I often feel when painting.

And yet, looking back, I realise this painting taught me something valuable. It reminded me that not all creativity is immediate. Some expressions unfold slowly, asking for patience, persistence, and acceptance of discomfort.

I may not have returned to oil painting, but the lesson stayed with me. Sometimes, the medium shapes the message.


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