For the third art sessions we chose a traditional still life, using whatever items we could find within the studio. This ended up being old vases, jugs and a gravy boat. Simple items that I could really focus in on shape and detail. We also decided to set up some lamps so we could play around with the light and shadows.
I’ve always struggled drawing that top part of a cup or vase – it either becomes too circular or too oval so this was good practise for me and the end result wasn’t too bad. I also had to focus in on the tone/shadow of the items as they were all pretty much just one colour each.
Outlining lightly in charcoal again I went straight into painting the largest vase in a greyish colour, mainly because I hated the colour and knew best to get it out the way! The lamp we setup was right next to this vase so it created a really strong shadow across the right hand side of the items.
*Insert a painting break here for some fun photos jumping around – then back to painting*
I much preferred painting the greens of the other items in this study. Colour work has always felt more natural to me than painting in black, greys and white. I’m a creature of habit when it comes to art. Rather than experimenting I tend to stick with what I know and like so these art sessions with Amira and been a great way at practising skills I would otherwise of left in high school.
Art sessions 3.0 will be our last for a while as Amira is off to Berlin for a art residency – how cool! I would say I would try and keep experimenting myself but this would be highly unlikely…instead we will try and plan for Art sessions 4.0 via zoom between the UK and Berlin!

