Grapes 11x14 oilI have been working feverishly..because the universe has decided to bless me with plenty of art activities to keep me busy! I am now doing three demos in the month of April...I have my show opening next month, on March 6 in Joplin and have another short term showing in Neosho., Mo. beginning March 30. I will try to keep posting but I am spending a lot of time at the easel and database and not so much at creative blogging so this will be the last lengthy blog for a while. Towards the end of the month I may be able to free up my time some.
Here is a little painting I did the other day...Jeff's Grape demo inspired me!!....which I will post at a later date. I have been doing some small work...they are fun and have a lot of instant gratification to them!
I will show how the still life is set up and the lighting that goes with it....also... if you have questions ...again feel free to ask!
Still Life Setup
I use a large cardboard box with the top, bottom and one side cut out then painted with black spray paint. It is on top of some more boxes to bring the setup to eye level. I add a cover to that box of cardboard also painted black if I need more shadow. I also use some black panels that measure 20x30 if I need a taller shadow box for a still life that has a more vertical composition. Max found them for me at Hobby Lobby (dear man...always thinking!!) They are taped together to form a large box with a top. If more shadow area is required than I move the top forward to hang over a bit more. Careful here or you can have a tumbling down mess! I had to have some help stacking everything. Please see warning above..lol!
My light is on a pole that I made a few years ago when I was teaching regular classes. It is a round base with a hole cut in it the same diameter as the pole and they just fit together. The pole is 6 foot. I use a clamp on light with 100 watt Reveal light bulb
and it is clamped to the very top and pointed down over the top of the setup. As you can see by the picture I have my easel to the side and paint site size most of the time. I have a table in front of the easel rather than to the side as it keeps me back from the canvas.
Please note that with this setup the light shines on my setup, palette and canvas all at once. I paint with all the other lights off except that one. Everything is ready an then I start to setup the actual objects. I have some garlic that I have started to paint and took the time to arrange them in a pleasing pattern of shapes and light and dark design that is suitable to my eye.
I also have a small wooden box which the garlic is in because I like the reflected light and the color of the wood. Some of my old students may remember this box as h
aving little still
life's on it and having to do three in a day!
So there you have it!! I hope this will be of help to some.
I am also very happy to report that I have lost 10 lbs. as of this morning!! Yeah, me!!
Back to the easel,
Theresa
