Still Life

I started lessons with a new art instructor at the beginning of the year.  She's an award winning artist who has art displayed in studios and museums across the country.  She's teaching me a whole new technique--still life.

The first step was to choose a subject.  I chose this little pumpkin and a couple apples.  Simple you'd think.  They are set up inside a shadow box so that we can control the lighting. 

You can see above how the lighting is provided.  The shadow box is covered on the top and all the sides except the front.  The painting starts with a sketch.  On the first week I hauled my French easel to her studio. Her studio is in the artsy part of town and I have to park a few blocks away and then climb a couple flights of stairs.  The French easel is very heavy so she suggested a Pochade box (more about that later).

After the sketch comes the first layer of under painting just to get the lights and darks in. 

We let the first layer dry for a week and then went back in with the next layer of under painting.  This one is done all in raw umber.  This is similar to photos that in sepia tone.

In week three we started applying color.  This involves mixing every shade of orange and red that you can imagine.  Above you can see my Pochade box.  It's a 9"x12" wooden box.  My painting above is larger than 9x12 so it's clipped to the lid of the box.  Normally, you would slide you painting into the clips in the lid.  Below that you will see my pallet.  It slides out so that paintings and other supplies can be stored in the bottom of the box.

What's really cool about the box is that it is fitted on the bottom for a tripod to be attached.  That's how I can use it when standing.  The tripod can be removed and the box can then be used on a table or on a lap.  When the weather gets warmerI plan to hike to my favorite overlook spot in the Garden of the Gods with my Pochade box and do a little plein air painting.  Carrying this box will be so much easier than my big easel.

So now we're at week for and we applying another layer of color.  Each layer gets progressively thinner--"lean over fat".  You may notice that the background has been added also.

So, now we're on week five and while the pumpkin is holding in there my original two apples have not survived which means it's time to choose some new ones.

Another layer of color and it's getting close.  My instructor says we'll finish it up at the next session.  Final touches on the fruit and refinement of the background.  It's all very time consuming and methodical, but the three hours per week that I spend at the studio are the fastest three hours of the week.  I get immersed into my paintings and the time flies by.

Since I leave my painting at the studio I decided I needed something at home to practice on.  I made my own little shadow box and selected a couple items to paint.

Unfortunately I didn't take photos of this painting from the beginning.  All I have is the initial sketch and...

...how it looks in it's current state.  So far it's only had its first layer of color so there's still a long way to go.  I also improvised on the background to had a pop of color.  

So much fun!

An update on my future art studio:  My she shed has been delivered and built on our property.  It will be awhile before it's ready to use though because we're going to add insulation, drywall and flooring in addition to making it glamorous and inspiring.  Can't wait!