Creating a still life from scratch with the society of artists

Ann England (Image: Ann England)

July has been a quiet month for Sidmouth Society of Artists, unlike the weather and now we start to go forward as we prepare for winter. Meanwhile don’t get too sunburnt!

Ursula Andrejczuk, who hails from Poland and paints in oils, gave us an unusual evening starting from scratch with no idea of the picture she would complete. She requested certain objects which she felt would make a good combination to form a still life picture and rearranged them several times before she had a mix she was satisfied with, explaining her rationale for changing the objects around along the way.

She then began her painting using only 2 brushes, one large and one small, sketching in the picture very roughly with a light paint brush. Using a large brush, the background was painted in, by which time it was difficult to see how the picture might come together and the different objects be identified.

Ursula was adamant that this was not to be a photograph of the arrangement but her impression of the picture the chosen objects made.

After the oils had been given time to dry, the objects then began to come to life and with the inclusion of darks and lights, shadows, and highlights the picture emerged!

This was an interesting demonstration with the careful explanation of how to go about forming a still life picture from virtually nothing e.g., several bottles, a glass and small box, recognizing how to use the colours together and placing them to advantage. I feel most of us learnt something rather than using a picture before us whether photograph or landscape plein air.

If you are planning on having a go at painting this winter, then please visit our website, www.sidmouthsocietyofartists.com for further information regarding forthcoming demonstrations and workshops. New members are always very welcome.