Still Life with Two Objects IV

Oil on panel 18 x 24cm

Like an ill-fated television drama series, I think I'm going to bring down the curtain on this six painting challenge without painting the final two episodes. And like an ill-fated television drama, I leave you with a cliffhanger - Will the beautiful pear escape from under the glass or will it be left to rot?!

My tip is that it does escape, only to be eaten with a lovely, runny Mont d'Or, Vacherin du Haut-Doubs AOC.

Still Life with Two Objects III

Flask & Pear - oil on panel 18 x 24cm
(the photograph is a little too blue)

This is the halfway point in the two object still life challenge. I don't know about you guys but I'm getting a bit sick of it! I'm thinking, why did I restrict myself to this limited palette for SIX paintings?! Then I remember it was because I thought it would look more like a series if I did.

Then it occurs to me that it is reminiscent of potty training: initial optimism leads to endless diligent straining, followed by embarrassing mistakes, disappointments and the end result is s***!

On a more positive note, I've discovered a way to transfer my initial sketch on to the canvas. I sketch the composition on a piece of paper the same sized as the canvas. When I'm finally happy with it I place the drawing against a window and from the wrong side trace the major lines with a soft charcoal pencil. Then place the sketch, charcoal side down on the canvas and trace over the pencil lines with a paper stump. This give a lovely clean line on the canvas that can still be easily removed if necessary.

Pears in Bowl

watercolour 10"x 7" Cartiera Magnani HP

You can't say I didn't squeeze the last drop of creative juice out of these pears. Now one has been devoured, so that's the end of the series, I guess.

Persevering with Pears

watercolour - Clairefontaine sketchbook

Pears Two Ways

Pears - watercolour sketch Clairefontaine 7" x 9"

Pears - Derwent Inktense pencil sketch on Canson

We're having a heat wave! It's an effort to lift a brush, but the two little pears I thought would be pretty to paint were ripening at a pace, so I did a quick watercolour sketch followed by one with my new Inktense pencils. Now I'm going to eat the dear little things.

Does anyone else do this - eat their subjects? Fortunately I'm not working on portraits at present!