In the beginning

     So what's on the easel lately is a little different than the norm.  I live in an area where still lifes and landscapes are common and very much appreciated. For me, however, this is totally out in left field.  I thought it would be a good place to show some method.  This is the first day of this painting. To begin with,  I studied the light and color.  I drew in my lines and shapes in paint selecting my color based on whether the painting will be warm or cool in tone when I am finished.  I used a mix of cadmium yellow and cadmium red for the first layer of the cup, where I know in the end it will be light as this gives the brights and whites dimension and vitality. The grey shadows in it are based in a warm ultramarine blue.  The dark fabric in this painting has also been given an undertone of warm cadmium yellow to keep it lush.  I expect many more layers to come going back and forth between lights and darks.  I keep a separate brush each  for when I work with white and color, and when I work with color only.  Then I build in turns, or sessions, and leave a little drying time in between.  I feel this keeps my color crisp and not dull.  I jumped into the white on the cup as I know I want it as the focus and it actually has a lot of shadowing and reflection on it - busy not all flat white.  Also too, the painting is warm except for the light blue in the background. I kept that cool as another way to push the objects forward ~ especially the cup.    I am also going to refrain from using a straight edge on the chop sticks. It is a point of pride to get those lines straight ~ so far, not bad...
     I am in love with snail shells right now ~ so small and adorable with their infinite spiral and mobile home nature.  This painting is of items about home and identity.  The demitasse cup is from two generations ago with a chip and a crack in it. That and the flower detailing will be a good challenge, but more importantly, it belonged to my mother and though it was singular and damaged, it held some kind of importance, as she had possessed it since childhood.  The chop sticks were a gift from half way around the world.  They are a reminder of times in my own past ~ people and connections, dreams and generosity.  I will post updates as the painting progresses.  Any questions or comments are welcome.