Oils workshop - still life pt 1

Subject

The scene doesn't look like much but I spent a whole week trying to capture it in oils.  As I mentioned before I went to an still life workshop for a week.  The workshop was part of the Draw In festival. Matt Weigle was the instructor for the course and it was a great experience.  Julie Douglas the organiser has a write up on the week on her blog.

First day was a set up and drawing day.  Shadow boxes were already set up by Matt and Julie and arranged so they each had a single light source.  Had to choose some props and arrange them.  Have to say I took Matts advice and kept it simple so I could focus on technique. Kept it dark and moody. Drawing was pencil on paper. Out of practice on that so I drew the set up three times.  Also marked in the terminator lines (change from light to shadow). 

Little fella

Little fella

After all the serious intense work of late did this just to relax and have a little fun.  Back to to the learning.

Roses After Abbott Handerson Thayer -Study

After Abbott Handerson Thayer - Roses

Choose this because of the palette and painterly quality.   A copy can be found on the Google Art Project site. 
I did a study of this still life for practice and to get me thinking about still lifes in general. I had signed up for a 1 week course of still life in oils.  A big investment for me in time and money so I wanted to get the most out of it. The course was followed by a two day drawing workshop all part of Draw in in Belfast.  In the next few post I will show some work and talk about what the experience was like. 

Cloud Study -Lough Melvin

Cloud Study -Lough Melvin

(updated image)
Did a cloud study in oils (12"x 8").  Photo of the study is not so great.  Will try a take a better one and replace.  

Lough Melvin

Landscape Rocks

Landscape Rocks

First landscape since April! What have I been doing? This went through a number of iterations and still not overjoyed but as ever learned some stuff along the way. 

Torch

Torch

 Started off as a rough sketch but I wanted to try some different approaches so worked this one up to a better finish.  Started in greyscale then added some rough colour.

Clean Up

Clean Up

 A change from all the environment stuff I have being doing of late.  Started out as just a character but then decided to add in a machine of sorts.  Took me quite a while and I suppose it could be cleaner but hopefully will take lessons and apply in the next piece.