Tutorials › Indoor Tutorial 1 - Summer StilL LIfe

Paints used: Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Dioxanine Violet, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Red.

Click on each of the images to view a larger version.

STAGE 1:

Loosely wash the main colours onto damp paper to establish a base tone. It is acceptable for these colours to bleed into each other as they are mimicking the effects of natural light as it bounces between each of the subjects in the composition.

STAGE 2:

Before the paper has fully dried, mix the colours that correspond to the colours you see on your subjects. Using a medium wet brush, apply these colours using a ‘one stroke’ action as you pull the brush around the fruit shapes. These colours will bleed into the base colours, softening the tones.

This painting explore the way in which an understanding of colours and their effects can help to create some dynamic compositions. Particular emphasis was given to understanding the ways in which back drop colours can work together with the focus of the composition (in this instance blue and orange - complementary colours). The inclusion of another set of complementary colours (purple and yellow) also adds to the dynamic effect.

The key to this painting was to encourage paints to bleed to create ‘base’ colours which can be used to build up colour and tone when dry. The use of colour in shadows (ultramarine and violet) is of great importance.

Tutorials › Indoor Tutorial 1 - Summer StilL LIfe

STAGE 1:

STAGE 2:

More Tutorials