Jeanette @ 30

My First Still Life

This is what our still life looks like.......

1. The first step was to gesso my canvas.

2.  After the gesso was dry on the canvas,  I then took a burnt sienna colored oil paint and lightly filled  in the canvas making sure that no white peeked through. This step was called "The Wash".

3. I used a view finder to frame the view of the still life setting before outlining anything on my canvas, as balance and composition is important. When using a view finder, you can decided how your painting will look best.

4. I then composed a design using simple shapes like circles and squares just to give the objects a home on my canvas; being mindful of how the objects weigh. I was reminded to check for symmetry, size and placing, to spread objects out and to mark off how much space each item needs.
( there should be balance on your canvas.)

5. It was a slow (and painful) process. I had to make a lot of changes; but this is actually the perfect time for those changes. Mistakes and issues blend easy in the wash.
(as you can see from the development of my painting a lot of re-sizing is being done.)

6. Begin to add detail.

At this point, I was adding color, and working on trying to see (!!) what was in the still life.
For me, not having tried this before, I am finding hard to see things.
( It's like I see with the vision of a first grader... it's there..... but,.. it's crazy to me that sometimes I don't really see the detail until it's pointed out. After it's pointed out,. I will say "Wow,. I see that now!")
There is a lot!! to learn.

       

This is the last draft. (January 19th 2012) I am loving this class. I have so many very talented classmates, and my Instructor Professor Aycock is truly gifted; They all push me and make me want to try harder. There is no one whining saying "I can't!!" Look there at my scarf, and the bottle in front of the blue flower vase,....(smile) those two objects were not going to be there.I had already decided not to even attempt........I, actually was excited that I was able to transfer 3 items to my canvas from the still life setting, but as I go along, I am encouraged to try a bit more, and i can feel the growing pains, too.

bio

 I look at art sometimes; I imagine that i am able to create beautiful pieces of art. I have feelings that i would love to transfer to canvas. I am looking forward to learning how to create beautiful paintings that people just want to stop and look at, not really wanting to leave.