Bitesize

Follow these steps...

1
Ensure there’s contrast
Make sure you have some dark shadows that use
cooler shades, and warm, vibrant underpainting on
the light side.Work broadly and think about the apple in
relation to the background. You will need those cool,
dark shades to make the light tones stand out later.

Building tone helps

show off the final
sparkling touch of
the highlights, and
adds vibrant colour
and texture

2
Add depth
Use highlights to lift Next, introduce more
subtle shades. Add even
your still-life paintings darker tones and adjust the
colours while keeping the
WHEN SETTING UP STILL-LIFE overall tonal values. Working in
arrangements, a constant light source oils means you can build the
and some clear highlights are vital. painting in layers and paint a
Lighting subjects with a desk lamp, light colour over a dark or a
even if it is daytime, achieves this. My dark over a light, and
oil paintings are colourful, textural and constantly adjust the tones.
worked freely, but, underlying this, there Keep the edges soft to help
is a strong sense of tone. convey the round shape.
Start your painting with acrylic using

3
strong colours to create an underpainting. Final touches
Keep an eye out for the very dark areas of Soften the darker,
the scene. When the acrylic stage is dry, shadowy parts, so the
build the layers with oils, making sure you side of the object almost
have some strong dark colours and disappears into the shadow.
gradually build the tones. The highlights This emphasises the light side
will be the final touch, so leave the lightest and especially the highlight,
tones until last. Also, remember that even which contrasts with the
white or light-coloured objects have dark background tones, helping the
tones and subtle shades. Apply the oils apple to become more
with a knife and paint the highlights on three-dimensional. For the
thick to give a 3D effect. very lightest tone, mix white
with a tiny amount of a warm
yellow, and apply it thickly. The
thick paint catches the light
and creates extra sparkle.
SYLVIA PAUL
Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex
See tone, not colour
Sylvia’s work has featured in
If you have trouble seeing tones, try
many exhibitions including at
the RA Summer Show. She half-closing your eyes when looking at
has also exhibited in Japan. your subject. This will filter the colour
www.sylviapaul.com and simplify the tones. Practise by
doing a tonal drawing in charcoal and
white chalk on grey paper.

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 P rojec ts

58 The delicious art of

coloured pencils
Follow Steven Hughes as he shares his process for creating
a variety of surface textures in coloured pencil

64 Find beauty in a fading flower

Julia Trickey creates translucent watercolour featuring minute detail

70 Fun tops for painting ammonites

Stephanie Law shares how to replicate the beautiful
textures and tones of ammonites in watercolour

76 Drawing with pastels

and Conté crayons
Capture the essence of natural forms with Rebecca de
Mendonça, combining pastels with Conté crayons

82 The Golden Age of flowers

Nel Whatmore explores the joys of depicting
flowers in the style of the Dutch masters

88 Add drama to your still life

Rebecca de Mendonça explains how to get drama into your
pastel work, and how to work lights over darks

94 Paint like Cézanne

Rob Lunn guides you step-by-step through an interpretation of
Cézanne’s painting method from initial sketch to final flourish

100Depict the beauty of orchids with oil

Enzo Forgione shows how to paint the intricate shapes and patterns
of this intriguing flower in a smooth and vibrant style

106Paint a high-key,contemporary
still life
Rebecca de Mendonça explains how to get drama into your
pastel work, and how to work lights over darks

114 Use a rich colour palette

Influenced by the 17th-century Dutch Masters, Georgia Cox
shows how to create a flower composition in a rich palette

118 Create a vanitas-style

still life
Howard Lyon creates a still life from personal items inspired
by the moody, symbolism-laden still lifes of old

124 Make a free and expressive

still life in acrylics
Artist Sylvia Paul shows how to paint this stunning still life painting

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