Grace Devito

Connecticut, USA, Cotton and Globe Vase, oil, 16 x 16" (41 x 41 cm)

My Inspiration

My inspiration for the painting Cotton And Globe Vase came when I saw for sale at my local florist some raw cotton bolls and stems. I was intrigued by the shapes and textures.

My Design Strategy

I set the cotton in a globe vase I had under a north light; it took some playing around with the elements to get the feel I was after. I wanted to combine the look of a Dutch still life within a contemporary setting.

My Working Process

I started on a linen canvas and broadly indicated the placement of the elements with raw umber and Gamsol. I then started blocking in the large masses of shadow and light shapes, getting my value relationships as correct as I can. I find my darkest dark and put some of that value in its place and indicate some of the background to set the atmosphere. While this block in is still wet I start to build the forms and make adjustments in chroma and value. I work around the canvas so I can compare colors and values. I’m also paying attention to the edges, keeping things soft focused;

I will go back later and sharpen edges where I want more emphasis. I’m working in an indirect manner as I will be going back over this painting in subsequent layers but as I work each layer it is done wet into wet paint. When this is dry, I will oil out the canvas area that I will be working on for the day with either Oleogel of a mix of linseed and Gamsol and I will start working into this couch with fresh paint in thin layers building up the form and making adjustments in value, chroma, edges. I will keep doing this all over the canvas until I am satisfied, some areas may only have one layer others may have five.