A step-by-step still life acrylic painting – Lessons 2a & 2b
In this acrylic cherry still life painting series I am posting a weekly video on my YouTube channel that you can follow along at home. It’s free to subscribe to the channel so you can keep updated with the painting progress…
The next 3 steps
Step 1. Blocking in the background
It seems counter-intuitive to repaint a white background on a white canvas that I have painted grey.
However, leaving your canvas white when you’re first beginning painting is mistake No.2, mistake No.1 is not starting!
The added white can add texture, movement and a ‘painterly’ quality to your still life’s – very simply and very easily.
Step 2. Establishing a red local colour
The local colour of a subject is just the colour of an object in it’s simplest terms. If you could only choose one colour to paint the whole object that is usually your local colour, not too dark and not too light just like Goldilocks likes her porridge… just right
Step 3. Using glazes to achieve a transparent base
The Alizarin crimson has a translucent quality which makes it perfect for glazing techniques. A glaze is simply a thin layer of paint that alters and enhances the colours underneath. In this example, it helps to unify the shadow tone with the main colour of the cherry and give it a good base to work the next layer, the more vibrant highlights on top of.
Still Life acrylic painting- Free video Course |Part 2a &2b
These videos below show the second steps in the acrylic still life painting.
You should follow me on my YouTube Art school Channel so you don’t miss the next video.
If you want to take your still life painting further, you should have a look at my Acrylic Painting Course
You might also like:
1. Beginners Cherry Still life course – Part 1
2. Beginners Cherry Still Life Course – Part 3 & 4 (video)
3. Acrylic landscape painting techniques – Part 1. Lessons for an absolute beginner
4. How to choose a basic colour palette for acrylic painting
