This is a step by step of a commission that I just completed for a client who is collecting a series of these long narrow still life canvases. I had never thought of painting starfruit because it wasn't a fruit I was at all familiar with, however, it has beautiful form and created an interesting shadow along the edge of the bowl. My client requested this particular cloth, which is an Egyptian Prayer Rug, and the plate is Turkish. It made a nice exotic combination.
Because the plate had white in it, the cloth was creamy white, and the starfruit was basically white with touches of yellow and green, I had to evolve into how to create a vibrant colourful painting, as my client and I both love colour. So I started with something I know well - grapes.
I started adding colour and pumped up the vibrancy of the star fruit by bringing out the yellow and green.
I decided at this point that the contrast of the shadow shapes in the cloth were far too strong, (I was working from a few photographs as well as some of it from life) so as I changed the colour of the cloth, I also softened the shadow effect.
This photo was taken inside on my easel and the colours appear very cool. I slept on it and decided to soften the contrast slightly and warm up the lights a bit.
Here is the final painting which I shot outdoors in the shade. The colours came out much warmer here. I felt it was a very busy painting with the patterns in the cloth and plate, so for compositional purposes I softened the colours in the fabric above the plate.
I find commissions very challenging because they are someone else's inspiration rather than your own. In the end, this painting became one of mine, but I had some moments of struggling. I really like the person I was painting this for, and concentrated on created a thing of beauty for this special client.
Gorgeous painting, Claire. Such an interesting piece! I love the pattern and folds in this painting.!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Hilda. I love making folds in fabric, it seems to give it more energy. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful painting, Claire. Wonderful composition in this tall format. I'm glad you showed the work in progress. It is interesting to see how you built on the underpainting. I think you did a fabulous job on the fabric. Great light and shadows in the folds. And muting the pattern above the plate makes it recede, so the plate of fruit is the star. I'm sure the client is happy! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you Virginia, I appreciate your kind thoughts. You've been doing some wonderful landscapes!
DeleteOMG!!! Gorgeous painting! I always love how you combine pattern with a complex still-life. You always make it work and make it interesting without overdoing anything. I'm sure your client was thrilled! I get paralyzed with commissions, end up second-guessing what they may want instead of making the painting come from me. One collector is waiting for a painting without specifying anything but didn't feel either of the two recent pear paintings would work with what he has. I've set aside my compulsiveness for the moment and work on other things. Waiting for an "aha" moment. You've done a great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your enthusiastic response Lorraine. I admire your work and appreciate your feedback. Your expression 'paralyzed' says it so perfectly!! I'm with you! At the start of the painting process it's like I don't even know how to paint, and my direction isn't clear because of the second guessing thing. Luckily I genuinely really like this client so I was able to put aside all my worry and focus on creating something I felt was beautiful for her. Good luck with your client. Have you seen the other work they have? Or even know the colour scheme, or content desired? It's a tricky one. I've had advise from others, to do a little paint sketch or a photo shoot and forward that to see if it's along the desired lines before getting too far into it.Good Luck, I know it will be fantastic, featuring your dynamic colour combinations and gorgeous textured paint application.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things I admire about this painting. Great design and color harmony are the top two. The tiny areas of blue make it very special.
ReplyDeleteI agree - commissions are difficult and for me even more so when I like the client.
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments. I so appreciate your recognition of areas that I gave considerable thought to. Cheers!
DeleteHello Claire,
ReplyDeleteis actually very difficult to paint orders and having to please the customer and ourselves. You have been very successful in this still life, is very well painted, very beautiful and inspiring!
Congratulations and good weekend