Tag Archives: Still Life Oil Painting

Oranges and Grapes on Pedestal Still Life

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Oranges and Grapes Still Life on Pedestal 11×14 Oil Painting by Winifred

I created this painting throughout the days of the Democratic National Convention. On each of those days, I went to my studio well before the convention started and ended my painting day well after the convention ended each day. I painted a fifth day as well. I like Kamala Harris. I think shell provide honest, legal and compassionate governance and I will certainly vote for her. This painting, as with all others, have many hours involved in the creation. I’m not a fast painter and for me each and every element requires consideration . If I were to do it again – which I won’t, I would do some things differently. I had gotten pretty far with the painting – nearly finished actually, when I stepped back and saw a big compositional error. The issue was too big to ignore, too big “not to see”. When that happens it’s a big job to make the correction, but I did so. I enjoy these shapes and colors. I always enjoy painting grapes. I used real fruit when photographing this still life set up. I couldn’t get the digital image to look like the painting today and I tried for way too long. The grapes in particular are problematic because of all the choppy little colors on the black grapes in particular. On the painting they are smoother, lower contrast and it looks nice. I tried many things to remedy and eventually gave up. I’m sure there’s a way but I’m tired.

It’s cool and rainy today and the same is predicted for the coming week. To reminisces: August, is a time in the Western part of Washington state, when there are many weddings scheduled – or at least that use to be the case – you could count on August to be sunny, warm and rain-less. It was September or October before the rain might come – but the weather has changed so much. Many weddings use to take place in my gardens – gardens which I created. Before painting with oil, I painted with flowers, shrubs and trees. I’m glad I don’t have to be concerned about that anymore. I was always the self selected photographer for weddings in my gardens as well. After 2 years of my wedding venue and wedding photography activities, I quit the entire operation. The gardens and my photography remained in demand but can you imagine all of this activity at your home each weekend of the summer? But, it’s pretty fun to look back on the photos. The great thing about hosting this activity is some of the long time friends which remain. I sold this property in 2010.

September Wedding at Llama Rose Farm and Gardens 2007
One of many Garden Rooms
Guest Seating for one of the areas.

Above photos, are three of the many places a bride could choose as her background.

Well, that’s it for my trip down memory lane which started with me thinking about cool weather and rain in August. Have a great weekend. GO KAMALA!! Winifred

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From My Garden

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Roses from My Garden, Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield

Most often, but not always, I paint artificial flowers. This time, however, I went to my tiny garden and cut from my shrub rose bush I’ve had for 4 years. I don ‘t typically cut nor paint fresh flowers. I prefer to leave growing flowers in place. Most likely, they wouldn’t last long enough anyway. Even when I had a huge garden, it was the same. This rose is not such a great one. II’ve had great roses of many varieties but they can grow to be really huge and I have no room for that. My shrub roses are OK, if not great for painting. They don’t have long stems, only weak thorny stems. I cut a few, then wondered how to contain them. I wanted to use my brass cup which has the large opening of a cup. That wouldn’t work – until a smaller container I could insert could be found. It worked. I took photos and used the photos and fresh roses to work from. The already prepped and textured panel was perfect for this effort. This panel was 3 years old just waiting to be chosen. I was ready to go. Above is the painting. II like it. I has a vintage look, helped along by the texture of the panel. I particularly love the green of the foliage – shiny and bright. It makes me think it is a live plant.

Hope your week was good. Winifred

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The Goblet and the Drop Cloth

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Goblet and Drop Cloth 16×12 BW Oil Painting by Winifred Whitfield

Drop cloths covered furniture to protect it while I prepared new panels for paintings. The drop cloths have an interesting character which allow it to hold folds and planes as opposed to soft gathers or draping effects. I felt strongly it would make a great background for my still life box set up. It would only require that I cut my drop cloth which I was reluctant to do. After I dismantled my protective use of the drop cloths, I folded them, each 9×12 feet, and put them away. However, my inner voice kept nagging me. It too knew I needed a piece of that drop cloth for use in my studio. I returned to their storage place, unfolded one of the drop cloths and made a 30 inch by 9 ft cut. I then cut that in half such that I now have two. Excitedly, I took one of my 2 halves to my studio and virtually tossed it across the back of my still life setup. Because of the stiffness of the backdrop, As I thought, it id easy and interesting to manipulate. I reminds me of the appearance of white table cloths in Cezanne’s paintings – though this is not what he used. I can also paint one side a different color. In fact I can have each of 4 sides a different color. So the fact is – I love it. I had recently pulled a white goblet from my cabinet. It was just there – nearby, waiting to be put away. I placed the goblet on the new background drop cloth. I turned my new spot light on. WOW! I thought it was so sculptural, so interesting. I took a quick I phone photo to isolate the image. It was good so I took 10 more photos – thinking I could go one better. The fact is, I like that first shot best and that’s what I painted.

Now you see why this painting is black and white only. There was a strong pull to add a spot of color – one red strawberry perhaps, but decided it was fine just as it is. I did use lots of juicy thick paint which is giving me great texture. A fun painting inspired by a painter drop cloth. That doesn’t happen everyday for sure. Hope you enjoy. Winifred

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Blue Vase and Oranges

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Blue Vase and Oranges Oil Painting 16×12 by Winifred Whitfield

My thoughts are with the freezing and miserable people throughout the south. I hope utility services are resumed for them very quickly.

I can choose to paint a still life from an actual setup in my studio or from a photo on my iPad. For the past several months I’ve worked exclusively from the actual setup – even if I have a photo back up – in case a flower droops or looses petals. I find that my eyes want to go to the live props. That’s been interesting. My still life is now located so that I only have to make a slight movement of my eyes to view it – no turning of my head. This was not always the case but it’s definitely a workflow improvement. Now my quest is to be able to raise or lower the set up as a way to alter my point of view. You might think this easy but not yet. I will only need to purchase the right kind of stand to give myself that flexibility. I have many things to address this issue but none work as I would like. I’m always trying to make my workflow more efficient.

I also try to challenge myself in someway with each new painting. With this painting, I wanted to make glass look like glass while maintaining a painterly quality of the painting. The last thing I want is for someone to say the painting looks like a photograph. Been there, done that – for real! I really love painting but I assure you, it’s exhausting because of the level of concentration and often deliberation with each brushstroke required – the constant and ongoing decisions and judgements that have to be made. I often have some elements of the still life in place and evident but not others. In this painting, the choice of a background was changed mid stream. My original background had reds and oranges in it. It was pretty and colorful but competed with the still life elements of the foreground. I needed the background to move back – so I had to originate a new one on the fly. The more subdued colors work much better. I wanted the background to be interesting but not too interesting. I think it works. I’ll keep looking at it.

I’m taking a break for a day. My break is to sand down failed paintings and create a renewed painting surface on them to allow for their reuse. Have a great weekend and stay warm.

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The Tilt

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Tilted Bowl of Fruit 16×12 Oil Painting by Winifred

It started when shopping for fruits and veggies. I saw a bunch of large tangerines in the center of the fruit display. They had large gnarly green leaves attached. I would include them as they would add a special touch to the bowl of fruit I’d create. I tilted the bottom of my support to change the point of view just a little to add additional interest. Primarily, I used a palette knife but not for everything. Always a challenge but I enjoyed creating this colorful energetic painting.

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The Vintage Tray

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Roses on Vintage Tray 12×16 Oil on Panel

Roses are beautiful but complex to paint. It’s been a few months now, that I focused on painting roses. I started by painting single roses which I enjoy, but I also wanted to paint rose bouquets and to paint roses abstractly without a visual reference. This required that I understand the flower structure and be able to visualize the petals/flowers and lighting as the flower is turned.


I love the vintage tray the vase is sitting on.  I purchase most of my still life elements at Goodwill or at Poulsbo Antiques. On this one occasion, I walked into Goodwill and immediately spotted this tray – actually a removable table top.  You can’t see much of the tray in this painting, but it really is beautiful.  It was $175.00.  I had no place to use it as a table and it was far too expensive to use as an occasional still life prop – so I walked away – reluctantly.  The next time I was there it was $75.00. “WOW”, I thought, but I still walked away.  The next time, I was there it was $15.00!!!  This item had been in the floor so long that the cashier further reduced it to $11.00. We all love a good deal!!
Hope you enjoy this painting.  Next week I will post a very different style of painting – for me, and painted completely from imagination – no roses involved.

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Feel the Sun

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16×16 Oil Painting “Apple and Orange” by Winifred

I enjoy the boldness of this painting emitting such strong shapes, color and contrast. In so many ways it is abstract in form, but otherwise NOT! It’s a real POW to the senses.

It’s almost New Years and I wish you and all those in your life a very Happy New Year. Somehow we will get to the other side of what purports to be a challenging political year.

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This Time of the Year

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‘Stopping for a Margarita” 16×20 Oil Painting on Panel by Winifred Whitfield

I admit, this is not an image reflective of the Holidays. I thought I would have time to paint a holiday image – but I didn’t.

My painting reference is a photo I took in a Mexican restaurant in Ajijic, Mexico. I was struck by the foliage, that large leaf lit by a streak of sunlight. The chairs and tables were actually very colorful. There was a beautiful mural on the wall. Other than the mural, however, the walls were off white.

I wish you the merry and healthy holiday season, and get some rest, 2020 promises to challenge our PEACE! Winifred

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Brass Against Red Backdrop

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Brass Teapot Against Red Backdrop – 12×16 Oil on Linen Panel

Brass Teapot on Red – Oil Painting by Winifred

In June, I set up and photographed many still lifes.  This was one I knew I would paint at some point – and finally, the day came.  Painting the textures of the various articles was challenging and fun.The colors are luscious. To make this painting easier, I opened the photograph in Photoshop, and used the dropper, to select individual hues and values to make color swatches. I printed these color samples on high gloss paper and took them into my “wet” studio to mix my paints to match the precise oil colors for the painting. Very effective! Hope you enjoy. Winifred

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Going Forward

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Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah  to all!!

I realize this post should lead with a pretty holiday themed painting – but alas! NO!!  I think such paintings are pretty, but best left to others to paint. I’ve always been that way.  I actually feel a little badly about it. However, I just wait out those guilty feelings and soon the holiday is over and all is well again.

In addition to the linen covered panels, I told you, Ive been making, I’ve now also made my own hand made oil paints. It’s pretty exciting to grind oil and pigment powder to make paint.

Still Life by Winifred Whitfield with First Handmade Oil Paints

This gives me full control over what’s in my paint and it’s consistency. To test my new paints, I did this quick little painting with paints I made. “Two Vases and a Grape”.  It is a little odd looking, isn’t it.The scale of things seem a bit off – but it’s really what I set up. I like the fact that you can’t really tell what’s going on. What is the vase on, and what’s beneath that and why is the other partial vase sitting off to to right – and one grape!  If any of these questions arose when this came into view. – I was successful. I also find the shapes and values interesting.

But that’s not all I’ve been doing!  On my stove – even as we speak – there is a large quantity of oil boiling, which I’m refining to use with my oils when painting and to use when making handmade paints.  I did not know I was this kind of person.  I’ve spent 4 hours today so far, almost literally watching a liter of oil boil in 8 liters of water, sand and salt.  After this cleaning process is complete – which it is not yet, I will oxygenate the oil further for several days with a little aquarium pump. The idea is to produce a thicker, cleaner, less yellowing, faster drying linseed oil for my oil painting – in the style of the “old masters”. Such oil can not be found commercially today in art stores, though some version may soon be introduced.

Even though there is not a card, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a  Happy Chanukah!

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