The Artist - UK (2021-04)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk artist

PRACTICAL

April 2021 41

u FINISHED PAINTING

Shell with Manuscript, oil 8 3 113/4in

(20 3 30cm).

Attention was given to the surface of the

table and to the wall. There was too much of

a jump in tone from the lighter part of the

wall to where it became darker, creating too

sharp an edge, so this transition was softened

by scumbling over a tone in between the two

areas. The edges of some of the shapes and

shadows on the tabletop were also picked out

and given a little more definition

p STAGE FIVE
I began to look at the smaller areas of tone and
some of the more subtle changes of light within
the composition – the way the light falls on the
back wall and the contour and smaller tonal
changes across the top of the shell. Directional
brushwork follows the shape of the shell to
suggest its volume, using a larger flat brush
alongside a smaller round bristle. The text on
the music cover was suggested with a few fluid
brushstrokes

p STAGE FOUR

Before going any further the darkest and

lightest values were added; the design on the

cover of the music is the darkest tone within the

composition so once this had been painted all

the surrounding tones could be checked and

adjusted. The shapes and proportions of the

objects were continually checked, as were the

diagonals of the edges of the sheet music, which

were redrawn. The lightest mixes of grey were

now used to pick out the highlights within the

shell and also to delineate the short, scalloped

curves along its edges

p STAGE THREE

Patching-in continued over the entire surface so that most of

the gesso primer was covered. Lighter tones were then added to

the shell and the brushstrokes began to follow the direction of

the form, which began to suggest its volume. As more paint was

applied, shapes and edges were adjusted with contrasting tones/

mixes

Next month: Tone and temperature