The Workshop Still Life

Using a series of sketches, a study painting, and finally the painting itself- I attempted to capture the essence of this busy, colorful workshop scene.

The position of the wood, the blue boogie-boards, and the green chair with an Orange sleeping-bag draped over it makes this composition shout, “Here I am! Paint me!”

When I started the piece, I did a quick sketch to get the composition down, then the dark areas.

Usually preferring to paint outdoors, I liked these subjects, and made an exception.

Once I found the gist of the drawing style, shape of the wheelbarrow, and blurred background, I set my hopes high on capturing such details as the Birch logs, for instance. I quickly learned I had other options.

A fast painting of the subject, this “study” revealed to me the plethora of color, for instance the blue in the wheelbarrow, I could substitute to liven the painting up.

Not that I had to make up colors, but I felt the yellow logs, blue wheelbarrow, and green chair against the orange sleeping bag could be a fun take. Here’s my stab at bringing it all together: