25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 15

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

It's quite a balance to keep the painting fresh, to not overwork it, but also to include enough visual information to make it believable. I think I got it right with the cloth here, but perhaps not the apple.

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 14

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 13

10.2cm x 10.2cm

acrylic on paper

I am just over half way with this project now, so here is a recap: There is a theory that because painting is difficult, we have to accept that the first 25 to 50 paintings that we make won't be any good, so we might as well just get them over with. I want to work on my painting skills, so decided to do 25 small paintings in the hope that I would see some improvement at the end. (25 seemed more realistic for me than 50). I am loving the challenge, and might just do 50 after all!

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 12

10.2cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 11

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 10

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

This is painted in a new sketchbook, as my other one is finished. The paper is much whiter, and I have left the whites of the cloth and not painted them. I am happy with the fruit, but not delighted with the cloth. I prefer the cloth of Number 4.

I am learning that it is all a process, the cloth has not worked out that well today, but I have done a good job with it before, AND I can work on it again tomorrow (or I could just leave it out!) Some paintings go really well, and some are awful!

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 9

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

That fabric is not getting any easier!

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No. 8

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

Had some difficulties with this one.

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No 7

 10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

I am pleased with how this turned out. I like the bright clean colours and the loose brushstrokes.

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No. 6

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No. 5

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No. 4

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No. 3

 2 Pink Ladies
10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No. 2

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

The onion again, this time in the corner of a cardboard box. That stem is a real challenge.

25 Small Still Life Paintings, No. 1

I read an article that says that because painting is a difficult skill to acquire, the first 25 to 50 paintings you do are seldom very good, so you might as well get them over and done with! 

I like that idea - in 25 to 50 paintings, things are going to get better - I might as get those ones done!

So here is the first one of my 25 Small Still Life Paintings

It was a painting of an onion in a bowl, but I could not get the bowl to work so I painted it out. The background remains unresolved, but I am happy with the onion. I have used cheap acrylic paint in my sketchbook. (See photo below.)

10.2 cm x 10.2 cm

acrylic on paper

So why am I doing 25 Small Still Life Paintings? 

Although I have been painting for years, in various different styles and in different media, I always feel that my painting technique could use some improvement. Currently, I feel that my observation skills could use some attention and I would like to get back to painting directly from the real object as opposed to painting from photographs. I love still life, so I have challenged myself to complete 25 small still life paintings. 

To make it easy, and to ensure that I get going (I often need a big nudge) I have used cheap (my daughter's) acrylic paint (acrylic is fast drying and does not mess as much as oils), and painted directly into my sketchbook. I might change to oils on board as I go along.

 I will be posting all of the 25 paintings that I do, so that you can follow my progress - watch out for them...