Cup and Lemon

I've finished my 'dark period for now, but I may go back to it! I'm not particularly pleased with this painting. It's on a blue ground for a change, and I did a preparatory drawing. I've experimented with a new signature on this one too! It's oil on board 6 x 6 inches.

Continuing in a low-key vein....

Jug and chillies oil on board 6 x 6 inches.

The importance of drawing

I decided to do a proper drawing of this set up before painting it as previous attempts at painting this bowl without planning first have resulted in failure! I use a small grid drawn on acetate in the same proportions as my painting and look through it at the set up marking edges on a grid drawn on paper to the same size as the painting, then spend time observing and making a proper drawing on the paper, subsequently transferring it to my painting board. If this sounds confusing I'm sorry, I will try to clarify in future posts with photographs of how I go about it! Oil on canvas board 8 x 6 inches.

Cup, Twig and Shell

I thought I'd do something with an even more limited palette this time. I used ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and white (although I did cheat and use a bit of cadmium yellow as well so that defeated the object really!) Also I wanted to paint 3 objects with different 'home values' ie, a light object, a mid-tone object and a dark object. I got this idea from reading a book by an artist called Charles Sovek.

Why did I start painting daily?

Well, mainly because I love painting! But I was painting a lot before - I was doing portraits of animals from photos but getting increasingly frustrated with my lack of technique. Also, it's very easy to paint from photos on a computer screen - if you're unsure of a colour you can sample it and isolate it in Photoshop - it's too easy really and also it encourages the dreadful 'detailitis' (well for me it does anyway). I felt as if I wanted to be more bold and brave with my painting. For several years I've been aware of the 'daily painting movement' on the internet and have taken an interest in some of the work posted. One such daily painter is Carol Marine who has written a book called (funnily enough) Daily Painting which I bought and found very encouraging and helpful. Looking at some of the artists on the internet I could see that the habit of making small daily works was helping their painting immensely. Michael Naples is a very good example. I hope that even if it takes several years of practice, I can improve my painting to that extent. Today's painting is of some items I found on the beach in Cornwall when I was there recently. Oil on board 6 x 6 inches

Onion

I'm finding it hugely helpful doing these little still lives. I find I'm learning so much more than working from photos. I don't think I have a particular style yet and I'm working towards that. It may take months, it may take years, but I'm enjoying the process. This painting is on gessoed board 6 x 6 inches.

Red Onion

Oil on board 6 x 6 inches.

Lemon on Grey

A lemon with the cleaning rag again! I like the idea of the bright lemon on the dull grey background. This is oil on gessoed board 6 x 6 inches.

More Green Apples

This one was done on gessoed board - 6 x 6 inches.

Lemon and Rag

I'm quite fond of this one. The backdrop is my other half's window cleaning rag!

Lemon and Jug

There's something about lemons that's very aesthetically pleasing! This is an oil painting on 6x6 inch canvas. I used a dress of mine as the backdrop!