For a long time, I did!
I just thought it was old fashioned and not for me. How wrong could I have been?
Ask yourself, What does a warm weather ‘plein air painter’ do in winter? When it is too cold to work out of doors, of course I retreat to the studio and work from my imagination, or from old paintings, watercolours and sketches.
There is always plenty to do. This year, for a change, I thought it about time I tackled the Still Life genre.
And what a result, so far I have completed eight traditional still life paintings in oils, using antique mirrors, jugs, vases, silverware, brass, all placed on different cloths and fabrics, which can be a challenge in their own right. I’ve also loved painting them, each object has it’s own difficulties, like the shiny surfaces of
silver, and mirrors, the textural surfaces of fabrics, and gilded mirror frames etc, the play of light on folded cloth, all are challenges requiring thought and attention.
I’ve included a few here, to show what I mean. none of the objects need be valuable, it is amazing what can be found at second hand stalls.
I hope you like what I have done here, and if you enjoy painting or drawing, don’t forget the humble still life, this genre has plenty of life left in it still, and you will find it both challenging and rewarding.
