I learned to paint in oils as a sophomore in High School from a dedicated teacher that not only taught the fundamentals but in depth use of complimentary color in subsequent layers of paint. Even with this opaque medium this technique made a huge difference in the finished painting. I spent years painting very tight and controlled, influenced by the Photorealist trend of that time period. In wonderful contrast I am now focusing on the beauty and energy of the brush stroke and the expression it conveys.