Painting still life - Clementines in Acrylic

Classes this week have been very enjoyable.  Every term I like to include a session working from life and the mixed media group were asked to bring fruit or veg to set up a simple still life.  I had specified acrylic as the media to work in, and encouraged members to try small canvas boards which are lovely to paint on.  I had painted an example myself and photographed the stages as a suggested method of working...

Stage 1: Create mid-tone and sketch composition

Backgrounds can be a problem with still life, so I advised painting a diluted acrylic wash of colour over the whole board to create a mid-tone (and to get rid of the 'scary' white canvas).  This is a preliminary layer but can be left to play a major or minor role later...  Once the wash has dried sketch out the composition, either with pencil, pastel, or directly with diluted paint and a brush.

Stage 2:  Block in base colours

Block in the basic colours of the subject - go for generalised light, mid, dark tones to start to suggest the form.  Cast shadows are important, get them in early!  They are part of the design process and can be used to create drama, interesting shapes and / or can act as a linking device.

Stage 3:  Scumble background colour

I find people often set off painting the objects to a high degree of finish, sit back and then think "oh, what shall I do with the background?"  In the class situation there isn't room to create elaborate 'sets' with draped fabric for each individual still life arrangement.  Backgrounds are really being invented.  For this next stage I suggested they might like to try scumbling a paler, thicker paint mix over the mid-tone background to create some interest and texture whilst keeping it simple.  I like to use a big flat brush for this and use my brushstrokes in an almost criss-cross fashion allowing some of the first wash to show through .  I paint right up to the objects and around the cast shadows.  Apologies for the cool tint of the photograph, it was getting dark and I forgot to take another picture before carrying on work the next day.

Stage 4:  Bring the painting to life with subtle colour, tones and detail

This is the bit everyone enjoys - working with a wider range of colours and tones and gradually adding detail to bring the painting to life.

Clementines, acrylic on canvas board, 8 x 10 cms

I really enjoyed working on this little painting in acrylic.  The warm limited colour palette is certainly uplifting on a chilly February day.  I find the orange / purple colourings exciting and more pleasing to the eye than a true complementary pairing of orange / blue.  In fact with the addition of the green in the leaf this colour combination is known as a triadic colour harmony.

If you have never tried painting from life, look for some fruit or vegetables in the fridge (or next time you're in the supermarket treat yourself to something you would like to paint) and have a go.