Painstaking Process

“Study in Silence with Etched Glass” was created through a traditional, layered painting process that has shaped still life practice for centuries. The arrangement was composed under controlled lighting to observe how illumination moves through water, reflects across etched glass, and settles into the surface of fruit and cloth.

The work began with small preparatory sketches to explore balance, proportion, and the quiet relationships between the objects. A painted color study followed, clarifying the harmony of warm and cool tones and establishing the atmosphere that would guide the final piece.

Once the structure was set, the composition was lightly transferred to a hand primed panel using soft charcoal. Only the essential shapes were indicated at this stage. The finer details were left to emerge slowly through close, attentive observation.

A monochromatic underpainting was then developed to build the architecture of light and shadow. This foundational step ensured that the reflections within the glass, the glow of the citrus, and the subdued tones of the smaller fruits would remain coherent and grounded as layers of color were added.

With the underpainting complete, thin layers of transparent color were applied through glazing. This technique allows light to pass through the paint film, creating subtle optical mixtures and gentle transitions. The etched patterns on the glass, the distortion of reflections within the water, and the varied textures of the fruit and cloth all depend on this gradual buildup of color.

The painting took shape over many days of careful work, each layer adding clarity, depth, and refinement. The result is a piece shaped by patience, precision, and the enduring discipline of sustained looking.