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omarzak.bsky.social
@omarzak.bsky.social
Sometimes I post my paintings. All my paintings are Glazed with https://glaze.cs.uchicago.edu/
First painting of 2026.

I haven't really done any abstract oil painting before, but I wanted to practice these colors without so practicing drawing.

Oil on linen panel, 5"x7".
January 4, 2026 at 4:24 AM
My friend ordered some off hand-painted reproductions of 19th century art with absurd modern elements added - like a blockbuster video in the background of a hunting scene. I think they're made in a Chinese workshop in some bulk.

I painted this duck floating in the ocean.

Oil on panel, 8"x10".
December 19, 2025 at 4:02 AM
I painted this goat.

Oil on panel, 8"x10".
December 15, 2025 at 4:28 AM
This is my friend's pig. I'm trying to learn to paint the light.

Oil on panel, 9"x12".
December 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I haven't done an oil painting in a while, so it's time to get started again. I took some photos in the woods at Arabia Mountain a few weeks ago for the reference.

I do most of my paintings ala prima, but I started this before Thanksgiving, and it dried while I was away.

Oil on panel, 9"x12".
December 6, 2025 at 3:38 AM
These guys didn't make the mess, but they'll have to clean it up.

Watercolor and ink on 5"x7" hot press paper
November 13, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I'm probably wearing this motif out. It's becoming a lazy check-the-box exercise. But I do like it! The masking pen is awesome.

Watercolor and ink on 5"x7" hot press paper
November 12, 2025 at 1:37 AM
My friend told me my work was looking very "southwest". As a dedicated East-Coaster, I felt like I needed to change the colors up.

Watercolor and ink on 5"x7" hot press paper
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I really like this motif. I did this one with a masking fluid pen instead of tape.

Watercolor and ink on 5"x7" hot press paper
November 6, 2025 at 4:31 AM
It's not October!

I finished my "at least one painting a day in October" project. I did a bunch of abstracts this year. I still consider myself a landscape painter first, then a general representational painter second, but abstracts really are genuine fun.

Watercolor on 5"x7" hot press paper
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 AM
It's October!

I'm still doodling on these guys. They're getting more desperate.

Watercolor and ink pen on 5"x7" hot press paper
October 27, 2025 at 2:17 AM
It's October!

I was doodling with a carpenter's pencil in my sketchbook and discovered this kind of dude. This was a pen and watercolor rendetion of a bunch of these guys hanging out in the junk piles.

Watercolor and ink pen on 5"x7" hot press paper
October 22, 2025 at 3:46 AM
It's October!

I'm still playing with the transparent red oxide, which today I realized smells like blood from all the iron.

I borrowed some of this motif from @fiendfables.bsky.social whose work I found today and greatly admired.

Watercolor and ink on 5"x7" hot press paper
October 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
It's October!

I wanted to experiment with the transparent red oxide.

Watercolor on 5"x7" hot press paper
October 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM
It's October!

I'm still messing with this motif.

Watercolor and Ink on 5"x7" hot press paper
October 17, 2025 at 3:44 AM
It's October!

I was doodling in my sketchbook and decided to extend a couple motifs as a little watercolor painting. I penciled in the drawing, and I think that was a mistake. The ink-only figures in the sketchbook were more spontaneous and animated.

Watercolor and Ink on 5"x7" hot press paper
October 15, 2025 at 4:15 AM
It's October!

I really dig the better-quality hot press paper. It just doesn't tear, and I can go a lot further messing with different kinds of masking.

Watercolor on 5"x7" hot press paper
October 13, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I usually use relatively cheap paper, but I've been trying to do some masking with artist tape, and it always rips. Even when I tape the edges, it rips. I cut some higher quality arches paper, and I'm happy with the result. No tearing.

Watercolor and ink on 5"x7" hot press paper.
October 12, 2025 at 4:48 AM
It's October!

I've been working more with abstract watercolors. I liked this one so much, I did a much larger version, but it's too big for my scanner, so this will have to do.

Watercolor on 6"x9" hot press paper
October 10, 2025 at 12:14 AM
The people demanded the return of the show, and the people's demands have been heard!

What a treat!
The world's most indispensable arts podcast is back, with a new episode out now on all your usual platforms. Another episode out tomorrow, then weekly.
September 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
This is larger than my normal painting. Another on a panel I cut.

I consider myself a landscape painter at heart - even through most of my work isn't.

Oil on panel, 11"x14".
August 29, 2025 at 4:30 AM
I focused on speed and value, and attempted to go aittle nuts with hue.

Phylogenetically, all apes, including humans, are old world monkeys.

Oil on panel, 8"x10".
August 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Another odd pig.

Oil on panel, 8"x10".
August 26, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Not a pig - but a boar. I don't often paint fur, so this was a little outside of my comfort zone.

Oil on panel, 9"x12".
August 24, 2025 at 3:34 AM
I wish all seasons could be fall and all holidays could be Halloween.

Oil on panel, 8x10".
August 22, 2025 at 3:14 AM