Metal objects are frequently very elaborate mirrors, reflecting and transforming their surroundings in fascinating ways. In this small passage from a larger painting, the handle of the knife captures everything around it, but restates it differently. Detail from “”Tangerine, Knife, Shotglass”, oil on linen, 24×30 inches.
Trompe l’oeil (“fool the eye”) is a form of still life painting where the representation is so close to reality that the viewer is tricked into thinking the actual objects are before them. It’s not my main interest or goal, but I have done a few of these paintings. Here’s a detail from one of […]
Smooth, hard surfaces make for crisp, well-defined highlights. In this section of a larger painting, the teacup shimmers with brilliant intense points of light, almost like miniature fireworks. Detail from “Teacup, Fork, and Two Oranges on Granite”, oil on linen, 8×10 inches. Please follow my stories to see what I’m working on right now.
In some paintings, the shadows are the real stars. That’s the case here, where the knife casts a dramatic shadow that flows across everything, and eventually right across the edge of the board and out of the picture. For your enjoyment: “Creamer, Knife, Bread”, oil on linen on panel, 5×5 inches. This painting was purchased […]
Translucence occurs when a solid substance is thin enough to allow light to pass through it. Even stone can readily become translucent. The jade bowl was thin enough to allow much of the overhead light to shine through, creating a beautiful effect on the sides where it did not receive any light directly. Detail from […]