Friday, March 5, 2010

Cherry Jumble II, Art Tip #23


" Cherry Jumble II "Copyright 2009 J. Bellinger
Oil
8"x8"
Sold
I kept forgetting to post this little painting completed last summer. It is one of the series, including the baby shoes, that I did with the objects laying on plate glass with black paper underneath. I love the design possibilities with the reflections.

Art Tip #23: When setting up/arranging a still life take your time. Play with many different arrangements. You are in total control of the composition. Composition first, then value and then color.
Walk around your home looking for objects to paint. See what inspires you. Tell a story with those objects you choose. Get the lighting right..take time seeing how the light falls on the set up objects. Look through a view finder to crop out background. I use a box with two sides and a top to isolate my set up and light from other areas of the room. I can line it with fabric, paper, etc. Look at how different colored backgrounds reflect on the objects (use a small cardboard with hole punched in it. I call this a color isolator. It allows you to "see" actual colors which are influenced by direct light, reflected light/color from other objects, background, etc.
Painting from life will improve your skills and develop your eye.

5 comments:

whitewitch said...

Thank you very much for the tip! I love how you did the cherries. The lighting brings our their glass-like redness even more, and the shadows and reflections beneath them further accentuates their simple yet striking beauty.

Jennifer Bellinger said...

Thanks, so much. I'm glad you like this painting!

Gwen Bell said...

Gorgeous color,composition and reflections! And thanks so much for the tip...one I really need.

Jennifer Bellinger said...

Thanks, Gwen. We all need help and encouragement from our fellow artists. After all, we are all on the same path/journey. Glad my tip helped you.

Virginia Floyd said...

Thank you for sharing your tips on painting. I'm going to try using an "isolater"

And as always, your still life of the cherries is awesome. I'm always amazed at your work.