Friday 23 November 2012

Shiny Metal

This week's subject at AVA was shiny metal objects. I chose to include a lovely copper skillet that I had recently bought on a day out, and an accompanying copper jug which I had bought from the internet. I added a handful of mixed fruit and that was all I needed to get started.

I did the drawing at home as I wanted to get well on with the painting before the end of the weekly session. I used Fabriano Artistico Extra White Rough 300g paper and my usual palette.

I started the painting by putting on a reasonably strong wash down the left hand side, using mainly Translucent Orange with some Pthalo Green, French Ultramarine Blue and Cobalt Teal Blue. I made sure the wash included the left hand edge of the copper pan to give some lost edges on that side.
As the subject was shiny metal objects, I painted the pan and jug first and worked the reflections as best I could. It was amazingly difficult as the light was changing and things in the room were moving, so altering the highlights.
I then painted the fruits, working across the sheet from left to right, getting lighter as I went. The fig was the last thing to be painted, as this was the only fruit that I had to paint from memory!
I also washed in paler and paler colours across the background to give me a very light top R H corner.

When all was dry, I gave the oranges a quick rub with sandpaper to texture their skin, and I think it is done.

Having had a look at the painting with eyes half closed, I am not sure that the top pear could realistically be in that position, but it is too late to try to remove it. Maybe nobody else will notice! I will live with it propped up in the studio for a few days before cutting a mount and framing it just to make sure nothing else wants tweaking!

                       
                                                            'Fruit In A Copper Pan'


17 comments:

  1. I loved this when I saw it yesterday.

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  2. Thanks Peter. I think the colour combinations are what really work. It reminds me of the bunches of fruit they used to paint in the C18th in oils with very dark backgrounds! Will soon need a new tube of Translucent Orange!

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  3. The colours just sing Yvonne, and you have covered the paper beautifully. I do like the look of the Translucent Orange. Brand?

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  4. Thanks Ray. The Translucent Orange is by Schmincke. Its a fab colour, which I also used for the Iris' in the previous post.

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  5. This is super Yvonne, yet another success. Like that you used sandpaper on it, never done that myself, perhaps I should 'carefully' give that one a go..lol.

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  6. Thanks Ann, the strong colours are not to everyone's taste, but I love it. With regards to the sandpaper, its also really useful for putting the sparkle on water, and works best on rough paper, although I do use it on 'Not' paper as well. Just go gently to begin with!

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  7. Back on form. Another strong piece.

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    1. Thanks Mick. Back to painting after a short break can make all the difference, but even so some inevitably end up in the bin!

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  8. Love the strength and colour choices in this, a really nice painting

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    1. Thank you, Lorraine, I am glad you liked it. The Translucent orange is so lovely!

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  9. Still life not my favourite to paint, but you make this one so exciting and vibrant. Love your site too and will be following your work.

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    1. Thank you, Polly, for looking at the site. There will be lots of still life esp. flowers, so I hope you continue to find things to enjoy.

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  11. I love the vibrant colours in this painting Yvonne

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  12. Love everything about this painting.... Yes, transparent orange is a happy color...

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  13. Love everything about this painting.... Yes, transparent orange is a happy color...

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