Page "John James Audubon" Paragraph 32

Audubon sometimes used his drawing talent to trade for goods or sell small works to raise cash.

He made charcoal portraits on demand at $ 5 each and gave drawing lessons.

In 1823 Audubon took lessons in oil painting technique from John Steen, a teacher of American landscape, and history painter Thomas Cole.

Though he did not use oils much for his bird work, Audubon earned good money painting oil portraits for patrons along the Mississippi.

( Audubon's account reveals that he learned oil painting in December 1822 from Jacob Stein, an itinerant portrait artist, and after they had enjoyed all the portrait patronage to be expected in Natchez, Mississippi during January – March 1823, they resolved to travel together as perambulating portrait-artists.