This exercise, much different from that showcased last time, reviewed key principles for a successful painting: make an interesting pattern of darks and lights — and join similar values wherever feasible. This painting may be a bit hard to suss out because many shapes were ‘lost’ in simplifying the scene into only three values. Notice how the highlight atop the left ‘spoon’ melts into the light background. And how the highlight on the short central spoon creates a strange form when linked by the mid-tone to the tall spoon handle immediately behind.
Spoons in a Pitcher + Mango + Spatula & Candle Holder. Oil.
The task here was to decide which of the many values in the still life set-up should be grouped into the limited value choices. Paint obvious ‘lightest lights’ with white and ‘darkest darks’ with raw umber. Then ask the trickier questions: where do all of those other values in the set-up belong — in the mid-tone gray or in one of the other options? Which grouping makes the stronger composition? Decide on your answers and paint the shapes accordingly, in smooth, flat value tones. No cake frosting this time!
