Saturday, August 27, 2011

Bowl Of Cherries

oil on linen panel, 7x5"/ unframed / sold



How this painting will look framed: 

This painting was a challenge and pleasure to paint. I enjoyed working on the reflections on the bottle. I've been learning a great deal about reflections. As in painting reflected light, reflections should be the same value (lightness/darkness of a color) as the value of the bottle (object) and not lighter than the lightest light on the bottle (object). To check to see if I've accomplished this, I squinted my eyes. The reflection should blend in with the rest of the bottle (object) or close to blending in with the bottle (object). When painted just right, the reflections appear to be floating on the surface of the object. They add life to the object. In alla prima painting, the proper value is painted without repainting over the first layer. In classical painting, the reflection is actually floated onto the surface of the object with thinned opaque paint after the original layer has dried. This is called scumbling. 

To enhance your viewing pleasure of Bowl of Cherries, may I suggest pairing it with my recipe, Raw Cherry Pie featured in my food and wellness blog.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Reflections: Still Life with Orange and Bottle

oil on linen panel, 7x5"/ unframed / sold




How this painting will look framed:

The challenge in painting Reflections: Still Life with Orange and Bottle were the reflections on the bottle. I wanted to use the highlights and the orange's reflection on the bottle to create dimension as well as give the painting life and light; yet, keep the reflections from over-powering the bottle. To accomplish this, I had to make the orange reflection on the bottle as close in value (the lightness or darkness of a color) as possible with the rest of the dark bottle. To see if I accomplished this, squint your eyes and look at the orange's reflection and the rest of the bottle. They should be very close in value, almost the same darkness. What do you think? Are the bottle and the orange's reflection almost the same darkness when you squint?

To enhance your viewing pleasure of Reflections: Still Life with Orange and Bottle, may I suggest pairing this painting with my recipe,  Chocolate-Dipped Candied Orange Peel.