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…
Mug and Boots
A preparatory oil sketch for a larger still life commission (a photo of which I will post soon). I love the spontaneity of this painting, and enjoy its expressiveness of brushwork.
The Glass Jug
While I was making bread today, I set myself the challenge of painting this unusual glass jug in the time it took to prove the dough and cook it. It’s more of an experiment in texture and reflection than a…
Trying to keep it simple
This is the third painting I made of this set-up (the other two were write-offs and wiped away). Each time I over-thought and over-worked things. While you can see how thin some of the paint is in this final version,…
The Green Bottle
A new Alla Prima sketch of (what I think are) hyacinths in an old green bottle. The flowers were growing outside and are rather more sparse than the ones you buy potted for the inside. Whether they are a different…
The Three Graces (or quinces in a huddle)
I have a soft spot for quince. As well as liking the fruit, I like the word itself. Until quite recently we had a couple of Quince trees in the garden, but sadly they became diseased, and after consulting two…
Ladurée Macaroons
A relatively quick sketch of my favourite macaroons from Ladurée. The flavours that hadn’t been eaten at the time of painting were pistachio, Columbian chocolate, salted caramel and coffee. It’s not a particularly well structured painting in terms of composition,…
Something Missing
Here’s a very quick oil sketch of a lemon on a plate. It took about half an hour and I like the immediacy of it.
Delft and Tomatoes Under Strip Light
Here’s a little alla prima painting to get the week going. (I know it’s Wednesday, but I painted this on Monday and have been a posting slacker.) I’m thinking a lot about atmosphere at the moment, and what I am…
Long Shadows, Coln St Aldwyns
Another evening painting of a Gloucestershire village; Coln St Aldwyns. I left it a little too late to get out this evening, and as a result was very rushed in trying to get the paint down and resolve the composition….
