Sunday

I'm terribly happy to report that I've finished the oil painting frame.  Apart from the gold oil based paint which set me back about $8 from Bunnings, the whole thing cost me;

Oil painting (found on somebody's junk pile) - $0.

Wooden frame (found on somebody's junk pile) - $0

Wood coloured varnish (already had it from years ago) - $0

Wooden molding (already had it from years ago) - $0

Wood, nails, framing accessories for the back (already had them) - $0

Total - $0!

Free * slightly * damaged oil painting

Yes, people throw out oil paintings.  Yes, it's a tad damaged here and there - but I still wouldn't throw out a nice oil painting!  Not the best art piece I've ever seen, but it's still something nice to look at.
And hey I'll face the truth - I certainly couldn't have done half as good a job as this.

If anything the damage gives it some shabby chic, some character... if you will.

It's actually sitting on a metal book stand, which I found at the op shop for $5.

Roses are red...

... but sometimes they're pink.  

I found this lovely oil painting for $1.  Signature says E. Williams.

The black metal plate stand was also $1.  I'll eventually pop it into a frame and hang it up somewhere because I find the front of the stand a little distracting.  And of course to keep the price down, I shall look for an appropriate frame at the op shop!

The good oil.

Many years ago we were given 2 large floral oil paintings.  

The kind lady that passed them onto us, probably about 15 years ago, was an acquaintance.  She was an unmarried working Argentinian young mother with an accent.  Strangely enough, she was at our wedding 14 years ago.

The paintings had been given to her by a friend that actually painted them.  As you can see the signature is 'Janet (or J.) Darby' 1970.  She was 'tired' of them so passed them onto us and I was rather thrilled.

They were frame-less, so I asked my dear father to frame them for me.  To this day, I love the paintings and best of all, they were free.  After 40 (and more) years.... I wonder if Janet Darby is still on this earth painting?!