Memento-mori with Cadmium Yellow
Having visited a lot of exhibitions lately that feature long since departed artists, it’s obvious to state that, in the end, it’s the work that endures. (Well, for the good ones anyway.) I don’t consciously create work with this concept…
Pick and Mix Still Life
Five little alla prima paintings from my Easter holiday. I did others too, but they were all culled. Each painting has a very slightly different surface – some gesso, some linen, some slippy, some absorbent, and so on. This meant…
The China Deer
It’s been quite a while since I have attempted any of the small Alla Prima sketches that I periodically like to work on. It requires a different approach and handling to my more recent studies that have taken place over…
Fun with Little Sprats
A very quick sketch of some sprats (as they thawed after several months in the freezer). I wanted to work quickly and expressively, with larger brushes and simple mark-making that is also descriptive. I also painted this grouping, but I…
Hydrangea and Chinese Vase
With a few bits and pieces on the go, here’s a little one shot Alla Prima painting. I don’t really like it all that much overall, but there are a few areas here and there, such as the shadow under…
Freesias in a tall vase
A very painterly approach to capturing these freesias and the soft lighting that the day provided, and I wanted to keep a fresh and spontaneous feeling to the work. I couldn’t see a lot of detail or definition within the…
Stocks in the Silver Coffee Pot
It’s been a while since my last post as I was unfortunately struck down by a summer bug which has taken a few weeks to get over. I’ve slowly been getting back to normal and started back at the easel…
Lavender in the old glass bottle
Here is a very quick painting where I again considered a white backdrop and the different atmosphere that this provides. I wanted to make a feature of the shadow as a part of the composition, while keeping things generally quite…
Pewter and Satsuma
This alla prima painting is quite broad in terms of its brushstrokes, with occasional impasto work on the surface. The pewter goblet is such a definite shape, I decided to place it against a pale backdrop with a white tablecloth…
