How to Paint and Set up a Still Life Part 1

"Ceramic Container with Egg" 10cm x 10cm in Acrylic ©  DWeaverArt

It has been a little while since I've done a still life painting from from life.  Like all of my painting I enjoy the process from inspiration to the complete creation.  This is no different however, to be open with you while working on this still life painting I was a little bit disappointed in the process because I was being a little impatient and I came very close to throwing in the towel figuretively speaking.  I had never done a realistic painting this small and during the process it was not looking like I wanted it to be.  My experience as a painter help me to remember every time I do a painting during it's process it never looks like what I expect it to be.  As you can see it turned out very good.  

Here is how I accomplished this painting.  I used a cardboard box. Then I used a box cutter to cut the top flap and side of the box.  I used some fabric gray and black to creation a back drop.  Finally, I used my drawing lamp which bends and pivots to provide a light source.

All of my realistic painting I start out with a brown undertone painting.  In this process I want to establish the very dark tones and middle values which provided a guideline for the paint intensity. Intensity takes a look at how bright or dull a color is. I used a liner bush and a flat brush.  Thank you for taking the view my art blog.  I truly appreciate it.  If you are interested in purchasing this painting then please email me at deeweaver15gmail.com 

Abstract Paintings in Series #2

It has been quite sometime since my last blog post till now.  I am happy to be back posting now.  This is my latest in a Series of Abstract paintings I call  "Distinzione"  This is the second series of abstract paintings.  I am looking forward to posting more abstract painting series in the near future.  I hope you enjoy this series of abstracts.

You are probably wondering why I call this Series "Distinzione".  I entitle this series Distinzione because of the contrast of vivid colors of high intensity.  I also used the cool color aqua blue and warm colors of red orange and yellow in the composition for contrast.

Each painting was done simultaneously using painters tape and measured out 4x4 inches each.
I also used a palette knife and round brush to apply the paint.

The frame is 11 x 14 with an opening of 10.5 x 13.5 and a mat opening of 4 x 4 inches done in acrylic paint.
If you are interested in purchasing "Distinzione" then please email me deeweaver15@gmail.com  Thank you for your visit to my site.

Abstract done in Soft Pastel

Abstract "Geo" done in Soft Pastel 8x10 © DWeaver Art

Acrylic Painting of a Lightning Strike

"Lightning Strike near River Bank" done in acrylic 16x20 © DWeaverArt

Gray Tone Paper Portrait Drawing

Portrait drawing done in charcoal and graphite on gray tone paper 8x10 © DWeaverArt

Acrylic Still Life Painting

"Candle Apples Glass and Flower" © Still Life done in acrylic 8x10 

Charcoal Portrait Process on Gray Tone Paper

I wanted to do a blog on the process of me doing a charcoal portrait.  So I decided to draw a 3/4 view of a bearded man.  Before I started this drawing, I took a picture of the supplies.  In this picture starting at the top left hand side I used vine charcoal sticks, paper stump, generals black charcoal pencil, generals white charcoal pencil, Generals 4H, 2H, HB graphite Master's Touch 1.5 hog hair soft flat brush, ( I used to blend and brush off charcoal dust) chamois cloth, knead eraser and 18" metal ruler.

Step 1
 I used vine charcoal and 4H generals graphite pencil.  I started out with a horizontal line to establish the overall with.  Next I drew a vertical line in order to establish the overall height.  The lines intercept to form a axis.

Step 2
I'm only using vine charcoal now.  I drew out the horizontal dimensions for the hair line, brow line, nose line, and chin line.

 Step 3
I drew out the contour of the head without a curve line using vine charcoal.

Step 4
I used the metal ruler to draw out the angles.   I drew out the ear contour, hair line contour, beard contour and established the proportions and angle of the feature of the face.  Also I used vertical lines or plumb lines to show the proportions of the widths of eye socket.  You can start to see the planes beginning to form.

Step 5
I used the metal ruler to establish angle lines and plumb lines.  I did this to confirm the proportions of the eye width and width of the mouth.  If you notice I still have not used a curved line.

Step 6
I begin to slightly shade in the planes of the face using the generals 2H graphite pencil to shade in the side planes of the head nose.  I also used it to shade in the bottom plane of the eye socket the planes of the lips. At this stage there is minimum of tones only two.

Step 7
I continue to use vine charcoal and I begin to use my HB generals graphite pencil on and around the eyes.
I used chamois cloth to erase the angle lines.

Step 8
I continue to use vine charcoal and I darkened the value using a blending stump to push the charcoal into the tooth of the paper.  I also used the vine charcoal to create texture for the beard and develop the volume of hair.

Step 9
I also use the vine charcoal to develop the texture of the hair.  As you can see I used it to add more value to the neck.  I went on to add white charcoal to establish the highlights and 4B charcoal pencil for the beard and hair.

                       "The Bearded Man" done in graphite and charcoal on gray tone paper. © DWeaver Art                    

Acrylic Painting Abstract

"Sky" © abstract painting 8X10 done in acrylic