Why do My Ellipses look like Doughnuts?: Plus 25 Solutions to Other Still Life Painting Peeves

Producing still life artwork can be a satisfying experience, as the artist is easily able to paint from life without the pressures of the shifting light or inclement weather. Not only that, any object can be selected, shifted about or the light source modified at will, meaning the artist has complete control over what lies in front. But challenges are certain to present themselves during the journey. Examples might be why ellipses end up looking like doughnuts, why porcelain looks more like clay or why fruit looks plastic. Some of these challenges may prove more difficult than others and unchecked, might cause a creative block. This is where this book comes in. With down to earth advice on common practices at fault, each issue is tackled in-depth: a diagnostic of the problem, suggested solutions in the form of recommended art materials and remedial painting exercises. In total, twenty-six common “peeves” associated with still life painting are tackled within this book. In six clear sections, a myriad of other matters relating to still life painting are explained, such as how to paint textures in food, composing a still life, colour mixing, lighting an arrangement and a section on the essentials of oil painting, in total, with over 100 full colour illustrations and twenty diagrams. If the problem sought after is not in this book, it might be in one of my other Oil Painting Medic books within this series due to come out in 2011 and 2012. List of chapters in this book: 1. How can I paint a still life without odours or mess? 2. I haven’t the confidence to paint my first still life 3. What art techniques can I use for different textures on objects? 4. I have no interesting objects to paint 5. My still life looks as though a child had painted it 6. My backgrounds are bland and featureless 7. My still life arrangement looks contrived 8. My still life composition seems trite and uninspired 9. I can never mix the colours I want 10. How do I darken the colour of tomatoes? 11. The flowers in my still life look wish-washy 12. How can I paint detail without feeling overwhelmed? 13. My study of tones looks like a hotchpotch 14. The porcelain in my still life looks more like clay 15. The food in my still life resemble plastic toys 16. How do I make glass look real in my painting? 17. My highlights resemble cut-out bits of paper 18. How do I suggest moisture or pectin on fruit? 19. Worn objects in my still life look new 20. Objects in my still life appear flattened and lack form 21. Why do my ellipses look like doughnuts? 22. The spout on my teapot painting looks skewed 23. My cuboid objects always look wrong 24. My still life painting lacks atmosphere 25. Indoor lighting makes my still life look dreary 26. I can’t paint quick enough to capture the shifting light A step by step demonstration Glossary Paintings featuredn this book Other oil painting medic books If the problem sought after is not in this book, it might be in one of my other Oil Painting Medic books within this series due to come out in 2011 and 2012. Book's dimensions: 5.5inx8.5in 150 pages filled with colour paintings, illustrations and diagrams.