Painstaking Process

“Orange and Etched Glass Cruet” was created through a traditional, layered painting process that has guided still life painters for centuries. The arrangement was composed under controlled lighting to study how illumination moves through glass, reflects from fruit, and settles into patterned cloth.

The work began with small preparatory sketches to explore balance, proportion, and the quiet dialogue between the orange and the cruet. A painted color study followed, serving as a rehearsal that clarified the harmony of warm and cool tones and established the overall mood of the final piece.

Once the structure was set, the composition was lightly transferred to a hand-primed panel using soft charcoal. Only the essential forms were indicated. The finer details were allowed to emerge slowly through the act of painting, guided by close observation.

A monochromatic underpainting was then developed to establish the architecture of light and shadow. This stage created the foundation upon which the transparency of the glass and the glow of the orange could later be built.

With the underpainting complete, thin layers of transparent color were applied through glazing. This technique reveals subtle optical mixtures that cannot be achieved with opaque paint alone. The etched pattern on the cruet, the warm light passing through its curves, and the textured surface of the orange all depend on this step-by-step buildup of color.

The painting evolved over many days of concentrated work, each layer adding clarity and depth. The final result is a piece shaped by patience, precision, and a sustained commitment to looking closely.