In this workshop, I invite you to dive into the world of still life painting, a fundamental practice that serves as a great teacher for all painters. If you've ever found yourself struggling with landscapes or figure studies, returning to the basics with still life can be incredibly beneficial. It allows you to arrange shapes, colors, and lighting in a controlled environment, focusing on the seemingly simple task of translating these elements onto canvas. We're starting with a single pear in a simple setting, which is perfect for exploring key concepts like light and shade families, value planes, and color relationships. By selecting a single light source, such as a lamp or a window in a dimly lit room, you'll create strong contrasts between light and shadow. This approach not only enhances your understanding of these concepts but also provides a rewarding subject to paint. I hope you enjoy this step-by-step journey into still life painting, where all great painting begins.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Select a single light source like a lamp or a window in a fairly dark room to illuminate your still life. This will help create strong contrasts between light and shadow.
Illuminate Your Canvas
Use another lamp to light your canvas. Ensure this light does not spill onto your still life by using flaps to direct the light solely onto your canvas.
Position the Still Life
Place your subject, such as a pear, just forward of the shadow cast by a card or similar object. This positioning ensures the pear is in full light, contrasting against a darker background.
Pro tipUse flaps on your canvas light to prevent it from affecting the lighting on your still life.
Embark on your painting journey by setting up a simple still life with a single light source to create strong contrasts between light and shadow. Position your pear in full light against a darker background to emphasize its form. As you begin, simplify the pear's shape by slicing it into straight edges and use a marker to delineate the light and shadow families. This will help you understand the interplay of light and shadow on your subject.
Move on to a value study by preparing a 6x6 inch canvas and mixing black paint from complementary colors. Establish the light and shadow areas by drawing lines to separate them, and use a color checker to ensure accuracy in your value relationships. Focus on blocking in the core shadow and adjusting halftone planes to capture the pear's true form. Remember to soften edges where necessary to create a harmonious composition.
Finally, explore color differences by setting up your easel with the previous value study for comparison. Use an extended primary palette to experiment with color mixtures, and divide the pear into large planes of distinct color. Engage in a 10-minute painting challenge to refine your skills, focusing on capturing large color masses and simplifying brushwork. Each new painting should introduce a slight change in the scene to keep your approach fresh and dynamic.
Points to remember
Use a single light source to create strong contrasts.
Squint to see large masses of light and shadow.
Mix black paint using complementary colors.
Draw lines to separate light and dark areas.
Use a color checker to compare and mix values accurately.
Defocus your eyes to see color differences between planes.
Divide your canvas for quick studies and focus on large color masses.
Use two brushes: one for darks and one for lights.
