techniques

All my still life paintings are worked from life, mostly in natural light and usually with oil paints.

Often I spend a long time thinking about which objects I might use and then arranging them on a shelf close to the window in my studio.

In recent years I make use of my camera phone almost as a 'sketching' tool to try out different arrangements and once I am happy with the compostition I put that away and pick up a paintbrush!

I begin by 'drawing' the objects with a paintbrush using Raw or Burnt Umber having first applied a background wash of turpsy colour over the whole canvas or board. This is called 'under painting' and sometimes I use Sienna or Ochre if I want a warmer colour underneath. This drawing process requires intense concentration and is when I iron out problems with shapes, patterns and perspective.

Once I am happy with the image I then break out the colours and one of the things I love most about painting china, gilding and metals is applying those delicious shiny highlights at the end which brings the whole painting to life!

Here is a time lapse video of the development of my painting 'Peacock Blue'