Getting Into Oils With a Still Life Macro Painting of an Artichoke .

6"x6" Artichoke, Oils, 2015  WIP



 Still slightly new to the nuances of oils, I think I love them. I know my art basics and fundamentals, and now I get to apply them in a new medium with plenty of time for blending.

I bought an artichoke and did my own photography with my beloved camera that does a great macro.

Here's a bit of my set up. I don't have color ink at the moment, but working from black and white photographs gives you a better idea of value independent of the color. Also, I'm using aluminum foil for a palette right now. My oil painting media are at the other house.

I am painting with straight paint, no thinner or oil added to it. I would have liked to start  with thinner for the first underpainting, but was too lazy to go to the other place to go get it. I like how it's turning out though.

Ideas from Vegtables and Fruits for the Next Still Life Painting

I have a need to paint. Today did not get much painting done, so in the end of the afternoon I went out and bought some fruit and vegetables. Those are fun to paint!

I am going to work from the photos I take so my light stays consistent, and with how much I work, I doubt I can complete it all before the stuff goes bad. 

Do you know how hard it is to artistically peel an orange?

Most of these things are backlit by an overcast Michigan Spring day.

 Love the translucency of grapes and oranges! Which is why I chose back-lighting.

 I love the macro on my camera. Go ahead, you know you want to Pinterest it!

I may put these on a long aspect ratio canvas.

This one I would love to do on a medium to larger canvas. I'm not sure if I will go for oils or acrylics if I go larger.