near Villars

landscape near Villars (oil on linen, 40cm x 40cm) David Atkinson

This is a painting made in the studio, compiled from paintings and drawings that I made outside.  I have pushed elements around and layered and scratched and scraped the paint, all things that are difficult to do when working outside directly from the motif.

Bowls

bowls (oil on board 30 cmx 30cm) David Atkinson

This is much the same process as the lily, below.   Happily, ceramic bowls don't wilt.  These particular bowls were thrown by Liz, my partner, and have not yet been fired so they are beautifully pale and mat.

lily

lily (oil on board 25cm x 32cm)

The weather is a bit rough to paint outside at the moment, so it's still the studio for me.  I don't often paint still lives, but it is nice to have a lot of control over lighting, set up and everything else.  To say nothing of being comfortable with a cup of coffee.  I like lily's, not just because they are beautiful (which they are) but also because they have clear, architectonic structure that is very satisfying.  They also, of course,  have symbolic connotations of purity and death which makes them even more interesting as a subject for a still life.  I never know how far to push this kind of painting;  this one has had a couple of sessions, and I could go on refining it forever, but at some point the painting dies if you are not careful.  Just like the flower.