Shackleford Shells No. 1

Shackleford Shells No. 1

This is the finished product.  This is quite a departure from my other work as I am now using a shadow box built for me by my husband.  It is a great setup for doing still lifes.  This is it:

Shadowbox made from PVC pipe and hardboard.

I start most of my painting with a simple sketch and begin to paint in an under-painting  of burnt umber and quincridone burnt orange.  This procedure enables me to locate the darks and lights.  The under-painting colors  allows the painting to have more definition and clarity (or m ore punch) for the final painting.

This is my final value study  (locate darks and lights).

Here I am adding color.  I decided that my under-painting was a bit bright and I started taking it down with white and other lighter colors.

Amost completed painting.  This is a good look at the effects of toning the colors down a bit.  

Final Product.  Thanks for looking at my blog!