Still Journey (beside Loch Katrine, Trossachs) approx A4 size

Hi.  I'm calling myself Paintjoy because that describes me.  My favourite hobby is painting, in oils or acrylics mainly.  Mostly landscapes, florals, some abstracts, some animals.  I'll be hoping to sell some of my small paintings on ebay.  (Small means around A4, A5, or even A6 size).  Mostly I work from A2 size down to A5 size, often painting on a box canvas (which can be hung without framing), canvas or canvas boards. 

Many of my landscapes are based on Scottish scenery, often of the Trossachs area, which is a beautiful area with everything - hills, mountains, lochs (lakes), streams, rivers, forest.  Even on occasion, a deer or hawk to be seen.  Not to mention heather and wild flowers.

I try to keep my paintings happy, as there's enough gloom in the world already.  The same applies to my abstracts - I'm trying to express the upsurge of life in paint - whether I succeed is up to the viewer to say.

 I hope it comes across as if from a young person - actually in terms of years I'm no longer young, but I am young as regards my new phase of life, having stopped 9-5 work recently. I used to be secretary, and have been painting for years as an antidote to databases, typing letters, taking messages, etc. etc.   

Actually that is how I got started painting seriously - I had been trying to draw an outline of a figure on a computer for my employers to use in a talk.  At that time I only had a basic word processing programme to use (this was years before the advent of programmes for publishing, painting, photoediting, scanning, etc).  I got so frustrated I picked up a pencil and have not stopped painting or drawing since then.

Now able to pursue things I just didn't have time for, I've been 'working' busily since, getting registered on ebay and Paypal, and finding my way round these enormous resources. I've just opened an ebay shop, paintjoy's pieces, where I have some books on art (mainly how-tos, drawing, watercolour, acrylic, oil) and some paintings - some expected to be in shop inventory only.  I'll hope to add cards too, perhaps reproductions of my own paintings, or possibly original paintings on a greeting card. Cards are still in the planning stage, but the books and original paintings are just under way, started in September 2007.

Still life with Kiwi Fruit

Secondary interests include Linux, and I'm currently learning about Linux, investigating which would be the best Linux operating system for my use of it, of course having used ebay to purchase the Red Hat Linux.  I got interested in Linux through using Open Source programmes such as Open Office.  Their philosophy appeals to me, making the source code of programmes freely available, even though I personally don't have the knowledge to make use of source code.

I'm also actively involved in a local art club, which seeks to encourage the fine arts and help any local person who paints (or wants to).  Though I like Linux and Open Office, I've had to revert to Windows and Word for the art club work - when I typed the catalogue for the exhibition, it was just too complicated a conversion for the precision needed for the catalogue printing.  But I still persist in learning about Linux for my own use.

Also I have a love of animals, I have my own dog and cat - though on second thoughts, perhaps my pets are not a secondary interest, but a major interest.  Actually I like most animals, and plants.  I'm interested in the well-being of the environment, wildlife and nature itself.

One would add Ebay itself, as an interest, though at present I'm just a very new newbie, (May 2007), I find it quite fascinating.  I look forward to becoming confident in buying on ebay, and will tackle selling on ebay - soon, I hope.