Plein Air Still Life

"Plein Air Still Life" 15x15" Oil on Canvas

Been painting this out on the deck for a couple of days. Boy did I feel rusty! I must have repainted that apple about 20 times. A great painter I recently met in California named Anne Ward inspired me to get busy painting still life outdoors. Very glad she did. I set this up in the shade under the eaves so only cool light was falling on it due largely to the overcast conditions too. Nice thing about that lighting is that it seems to give you lots of rich colour in the mid values, and the shadows are not so dark either.

I was also experimenting with M Graham oil paints and Galkyd medium and Gamblin solvent free gel. Both interesting. The galkyd medium is stickier and slightly thicker than the walnut oil I've been using but it has the advantage of drying faster. The solvent free gel gives the paint a stiffer feel - the brushstrokes stay how you leave them without settling down at all. Interesting but I'm still getting used to it.

I was looking again at Quang Ho's still lifes and also Fechin but mostly Sergei Bongart for his broad brave treatment, not that my painting turned out like that but it's certainly a goal of mine. Where would we be without goals? I've found that when I don't have them I very soon fall into boredom and despondency. Each goal is the starting point for another. Onward and upward.

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Comment by John N Blank on October 3, 2015 at 5:07: I love this and just bought your still-life set. I am enjoying it a lot and know I will also learn a lot from them. Will post some photos when I get into it more.

Comment by Candace Charlebois on July 27, 2015 at 2:45: Just love it

Comment by Rose on July 25, 2015 at 18:34: Amazing....adorable...dear teacher

hope one day I can paint as well as you...

Comment by Nancy Sands on July 6, 2015 at 19:38: Well you certainly achieved those goals. The colors are like jewels.

Comment by Richard Robinson on July 2, 2015 at 11:01: Thanks Nancy, my goal was to experiment with new paints and mediums and to get bold colour vs greys and bold brushwork.

Comment by Nancy Sands on July 2, 2015 at 6:24: Talk about "lost and found edges"...your beautiful still life demonstrates it in spades, Richard. I love your idea about doing a still life outside. I never thought of that, and so I will have to try it. Also, you have me thinking about setting goals. I think that for so long my goals have been to simply learn how to develop the skills and techniques of painting, but perhaps I need to step out of that area and set goals beyond those. I'm curious...what were your goals for this gorgeous still life?

Comment by Jessica Futerman on June 29, 2015 at 6:26: This is simply a gorgeous piece of art! Every time I log in to the site, I admire it again!

Comment by Susan Burke on June 24, 2015 at 7:50: Gorgeous. Learning how to put colors like that into white and still have it read white is worth a workshop or two!!!

Comment by Sharon Casavant on June 24, 2015 at 3:04: I agree with Jim.

Comment by Robyne Clark on June 23, 2015 at 21:42: Richard, I love this painting which is somewhat different to most still life art works, and I particularly like the way you have placed the teapot there as though it is of little consequence -- it was a surprise to find it. The painting is like a basket of happiness - no doubt about you!