Simple, but not so simple.

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  Simple Still Life set-up. 

Even the most simple Still Life set-up requires time, to decide how to go about doing it. There is a plan behind every artwork.

The two main things I spend time on, are deciding :-

Colour, and ii) Composition. 

COLOUR.

1).I had three vases to choose from : White, transparent glass, and green. I chose the white vase, as it would contrast well with the red rose, and green leaves. 

White vase with little blue designs.

2). Since there was only one object in Red (the rose), I had to repeat the red somewhere else, to tie up the picture. So I changed the little blue/green designs on the vase, and made them red/ pink in my painting.

3). I decided to sign my name in rose colour, so the red is repeated once again.  (Your sign is always part of the artwork!).

4). For the shadows created on the vase, and the background, I played around with the same tones as in the subject, i.e. tones of green, blue, red, pink.  I did not introduce any third colour. 

Always remember, Less is More. 

COMPOSITION. 

1). The subject should never ever be placed in the centre of the canvas/ paper. I have placed it intentionally, slightly to the right of the centre line. The red rose (main subject) is not on the central mid-point of the paper. It is in the upper left square. 

Subject should be "off-centre"

2). I always try to cut the rim of the vase with a leaf, so that the entire circular rim (or semi-circular) is not visible. I was not able to do it well this time, but i tried. 

Try to break the line of the rim.

3). The big “composition” problem in this set up was, the rose was growing up in a straight line. I tried bending the rose to any one side, but could not. Straight lines (especially in flowers, where a ‘gentle’ feel is needed), are highly avoidable. This artwork would look much better, if the flower was bent to one side.

Always try to cut straight lines, and have incomplete lines (like the rim of the vase). 

As I keep doing Still Life practice, I will keep sharing my thoughts/ notes behind them.  

Thanks for your time, keep painting !