kcp – Artblog

And now the fun begins :)After transferring the sketch on canvas (pic.1) on which I previously applied a greyish ground colour (see: Ground Colour article) I’m very roughly placing the colours. (pic.2) – This is a very thin layer, diluted in solvent and wipe-off the excess with a cloth – This is just an approximation; it is no big deal if the colours are not exactly what they should be, I’ll rework them along the way anyway.

On a second sitting, I have set the darker values at the far right (pic.3). I’m focussing on the ambiance and where the cream and sugar pot recede in the background to the point of almost vanishing. Again, this will be reworked later. I’m planning to work on small areas alternatively and re-adjusting the colours as I go – I’m barely mixing the colours on the palette which consists of Titan white, Cadmiun  yellow, Permanent red, Ultramarine blue and Sepia.

On a third sitting, I’ve set the lighter values at the far left (pic.4). I’ve also re-defined the ambiance at the far right to give it a little more of a blue hue, given that the ambient light is warm, cool shadows give a more realistic effect. Finally, on a fourth sitting I’ve refined the details on the silverware and glass (pic.5) off the spoon-holding sugar pot.

This marks the end of my Making of a Still Life series of articles but I’ll keep posting pictures and details on the progress of that painting and other still lives that I’m working on and experimenting with ground colours. I have been quite busy lately with the painting classes I began teaching and am also getting ready for an exhibit. I’ll be writing more about that in the next week or so.

The making of a Still Life:

• Introduction
• The set-up
• Ground colour 
• The sketch
•  Painting begins