Reflections

This painting was a class project at MIAD, an oil painting of a still life, painted alla prima. I did this in my parents’ basement, near the dryer and ironing board. It is just some items I got at a rummage sale just for this setup. Painted in oil on canvas. Being alla prima the drawing is flawed. I don’t normally work this way and prefer to get the drawing perfected with pencil before painting. But the assignment was to use alla prima technique so I was not able to work out the drawing. Still, it turned out pretty well.

The subject doesn’t have any meaning. I like the objects and their surfaces. I consider work like this nothing but a study. Art should have an idea driving it, not just be a record of what is in front of me or objects chosen purely because I want to paint them. This sort of thing is great for honing the craft of drawing or painting and so I have done quite a few works like this. But I don’t consider this to be art.